Loading ...…..As stakeholder calls INEC to extend exercise
Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has been commended for providing a conducive atmosphere for just concluded voter registration exercise in the state.
The commendation was made yesterday by a stakeholder from Oraukwu community in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state, Chief Stephen Sunday Omeni (Ichie Kodibalu) also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for providing a functional data capturing machine for the exercise and Igwe Onuora of Oraukwu for his special role in mobilizing the electorate.
He however appealed to INEC to extend the just concluded voters’ registration exercise for at least another one week or more to enable more people that could register during the exercise to be registered in order to participate in forthcoming governorship election on November 18, 2017 and subsequent general elections in the country.
Speaking to newsmen at his country home, Oraukwu, Omeni who was the sole representative of the traditional ruler of Oraukwu, Igwe Emeka Onuora at the recently concluded stakeholders’ meeting held at the Idemili North Local Government Headquarters, Ogidi, said the call for extension was necessitated by the fact that majority of the electorate were yet to obtain their voters’ cards at the moment.
He noted that the six-day extension exercise that ended last Tuesday was as fruitful as an eye opener to the stakeholders, as well as an attestation to the fact that less than 20 percent of the entire electorate at the rural area were yet to obtain their voters cards at the moment.
Omeni noted that in all the 12 wards of Idemili North, only 4,398 obtained their voters cards at the end of the previous exercise but when INEC extended it for another six days, 400 more electorate registered in Oraukwu ward alone and while more people were still surging for the registration before the six days elapsed.
He said more hundreds would have registered if INEC had provided two or more data capturing machines during the exercise but only one which according to him, had the capacity of registering few persons per day.
He also commended the Secretary to State Government, (SSG) Prof. Solo Chukwudebelu; Chief Joseph Ukaeji of the J. I. Ejison Group and Ogonna Olisa, a prominent business mogul, all illustrious sons of Oraukwu for providing logistics that led to the success of the exercise and urged them not to relent if the exercise is extended.
According to him, “We, the stakeholders would want INEC to extend this exercise for at least another seven days or more to enable more people to register and we are appealing to the press to help us in creating more awareness for people to have their voters’ cards. Oraukwu people turned out enmasse to register but unfortunately majority could not succeed at the end of the six days because only one machine was provided. The exercise was just gathering momentum day-by-day before the date elapsed”.
“If INEC could extend it to another seven days or more and provide two or more data capturing machines, we on our own part would mobilize at least 90 percent of the entire population to come out and register and if they do, the November 18 governorship election and other elections would witness a large turnout, devoid of aparthy” he stated.
