Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to pay close attention to the quality and activities of the electoral officers deployed for the Nov. 8 Anambra governorship election.
The CSOs representatives made the call during INEC’s quarterly meeting with CSOs in Abuja on Wednesday.
Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu, Executive Director of Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), said there was the need for INEC to closely monitor the activities of electoral officers for credible and fair conduct of the exercise.
Nwagwu stressed that the critical role of election managers, referring to them as “foot soldiers”, is important for the credibility of the Nov. 8 Anambra election.
“By that I mean, the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and the Electoral Officers who will be administering that election.
“We believe that sub-national elections (managers) are as good as the managers. The capacity, the competence, the quality of the RECs and the Electoral Officers who will deliver that election is important.
“It will reflect on our future and will help to ensure that those who control those elections are directly responsible for the inaction or action that takes place within those elections,” he said.
Nwagwu expressed the CSOs’ appreciation for INEC’s continued commitment to technological innovation.
“For all civil society, we are gratified that INEC is consolidating on the innovations and the technologies that were introduced and will ensure that we optimise them much better in Anambra,” he said.
Nwagwu while congratulating Agbamuche-Mbu on her appointment as acting chairman of INEC, commended her established relationship with the civil society.
He expressed confidence that she would build upon the legacies of the former National Chairman, Prof. Muhammed Yakubu.
“We are excited to pledge our solidarity and commitment and support going forward within the period of your acting as civil society.
“We will lend our muscles to ensure that we are able to do what we are doing to ensure that you have a successful period during this your term,” Nwagwu said.
Earlier in her remarks, acting Chairman of INEC, Agbamuche-Mbu said that all non-sensitive materials for the election have been delivered to the state, while voter education and sensitisation are also ongoing.
She also assured the CSOs of INEC adherence to the remaining timeline for the Nov. 8 Anambra governorship election.
Agbamuche-Mbu commended the response of Nigerians to the ongoing nationwide continuous voter registration (CVR).
“For us, this is a testament that Nigerians believe in our democracy and the efforts of the commission towards ensuring that all eligible Nigerians are given the right to determine who lead them,” she said.(NAN)
