Gov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to consider the use of the temporary voters’ cards in the forthcoming elections.
Speaking at a PDP stakeholders meeting in Enugu on Wednesday, Chime said the use of the permanent voters’ cards would disenfranchise many people.
He said that such a situation was totally unacceptable and unlawful to the citizens of the state.
The governor observed that some local government areas in the state had yet to receive the cards.
The governor, who said the meeting was called to strategise for the party’s “total victory’’ in the state, called on its candidates to play by the electoral rules.
He said the state was working with security agencies to ensure hitch free elections.
Chime announced that the party had appointed trusted delegates who would work as its agents during the elections.
He called on the delegates to desist from any influence or manipulations by other political parties.
“All is well with our party in this state and we will not allow any political party to overtake us.
“I will advise anyone who wants to truncate this election in the state through violence to try elsewhere because the security agents will be ready to fight them,’’ the governor said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the PDP in the state, Chief Ikeje Asogwa, assured the people that it would emerge victorious at all levels of the elections.
Asogwa appealed to the members as well as the people to come out en masse and vote for the candidates of the party.
Some of the stakeholders who spoke to journalists expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting.
The Chairman of Awgu Local Government Area, Mr Nnanna Nze, described the meeting as a welcome development.
He promised to work with all the party’s stakeholders in the area to deliver every ward and community.
On his part, the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Matters, Pastor Emeka Abugu, commended the governor for the meeting.
“The governor’s antecedents are speaking for him and we are expecting nothing other than victory for the PDP in Enugu State,’’ he said.
The Chief Whip of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Mrs Theresa Egbo, urged INEC to ensure adequate training of the ad hoc staff for the elections.
The meeting was attended by party executives, National Assembly members, local government chairmen, executive council members, house of assembly members and other political appointees.
