By Obinna Unaeze
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says the commission is 80 per cent ready for the 2027 general elections in Anambra.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra, Dr Elizabeth Agwu, made the disclosure during a stakeholders meeting on Friday in Awka.
The stakeholders at the meeting included the political parties, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), community and religious leaders, journalists, security agencies among others.
“We are 100 per cent ready for the 2027 general elections in Anambra.
“We are ready with the materials and everything. There will be no glitch in this elections.
“There will be no preference for anyone, the person who scores the goal will be the winner.
“We have enough security but if you are planning to cause trouble, have a rethink,” she said.
She declared that INEC was committed to conducting a hitch free, fair, credible and conclusive 2027 general elections in the state.
The REC said that the commission had held meetings with stakeholders such as the security agencies, CSOs, NGOs among others before the stakeholders meeting.
She said that INEC had embarked on regular trainings for its staff, upgraded its Information Communication and Technology (ICT) unit and started rehabilitation and construction of its Local Government Areas (LGA) offices across the country.
“We have been able to train our staff in various stages because as technology is improving, we are adapting too to the technological development.
“We have been able to procure about 5,720 Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) and some reserve machines for the 5,720 polling units in the state.
“We have done infrastructure audit to ensure smoothness of the 2027 polls,”she said.
Agwu said there was the urgent need for those registered for the continuous voters registration from January to July this year, should go to the commission’s headquarters or designated centers and collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
According to her, the collection of the PVCs started today, Oct. 9 and will end Oct. 15.
“You don’t need to offer any INEC staff or any adhoc staff money to collect your PCV,” she said.
She urged political parties and their candidates to ensure they plan themselves well, conduct themselves with decorum and embark on issue based campaigns.
“Political parties must embark on messages and realistic promises about what they had done before and what the people should expect from them once they win their elections.
The REC also disclosed that the commission was closely monitoring political parties on their financial spending, and advised them to be civil in their conducts, plan and organise themselves well in all their dealings.
“We have 97 days left for the elections to take place, tell our people to go and register.
“Showcase your parties, tell the people what you want to do. People of Anambra are interested in what you have done before and what you will do for them in future.
“Don’t plan to scuttle the election because it’s not going to work,” she said.
Agwu also warned the political parties and their candidates that the commission would prosecute anybody who offered INEC staff money to rig election.
“Go and do your home work but if you want shortcut, there is none. It’s not possible or feasible to destroy somebody’s destiny.”
She urged those wishing to register ahead of the polls to go and register as the INEC portal was open.
The REC said that training for adhoc staff would commence online next week.
She said that the commission had embarked on relocating its offices stationed inside the Secretariat of local government areas in the state and across the country to new places, as a measure to curb challenges of electoral malpractices.
According to her, we have given out the contract for building of storage facilities and structure. We have procured adequate vehicles and other electoral materials for the smooth conduct of the elections.
Some of the stakeholders urged INEC for timely delivery of all election material and ensure that electoral officers arrived polling units on time.
They also called for adequate security before, during and after the general elections. (NAN)www.nannews.ng
Edited by Maureen Atuonwu
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