The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the National Conscience Party,
(NCP) have commended the Independent National Electoral Commission,
INEC on the decision to commence the immediate registration of voters,
as well as re-validation of voters’ cards ahead the governorship
election in Anambra state.
In a telephone chat with newsmen shortly after meeting of stakeholders
and all national and state chairmen and secretaries of registered
political parties with INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, at the
commission’s Abuja headquarters yesterday, the Anambra state chairman
of APC and that of NCP, Chief Amechi Obidike and Sir Peter Okala
respectively, in their separate interviews described the move as
noble.
According to the party chiefs, the re-validation of voters’ cards in
Anambra would enable more eligible to vote and be voted for in the
coming elections in the state, adding that those who were below the
age to vote will benefit from the exercise.
Okala said, “NCP, Anambra state chapter commend INEC for ordering a re
validation of voters’ cards and registers to give room for those who
have attained voting age as well as those who may have lost their
voters cards to take part in the coming governorship election so that
people like Mr. Peter Obi who become Governor in a state like Anambra
with a population of 4.6m people with less than 100,000 votes will not
smell government house again”
“I call on Ndi Anambra to take advantage of the exercise and
participate in this lawful exercise, which starts on August 19 as
announced by the INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega during a meeting
with national and state chairmen of all registered political parties
in Abuja” he said.
The NCP chairman in his telephone interview disclosed that INEC
promised to prosecute persons caught in double registration before
November 16 election, while urging INEC to first start with her own
staff who are instruments in the hands of these fraudsters to locate
polling units in the bush.
“NCP is also Commend President Goodluck Jonathan for his political
will to appoint Jega and do not interfere with his job and that of
other parastatals thereby making it independent in its real sense”
Obidike called on all opposition parties in Nigeria not to politicize
every issue of governance but to join hands as leaders to develop the
country’s democracy.
