BY: EBEN ENASCO KINGSLEY (BENIN CITY)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its commitment and focus towards delivering free, fair and credible elections scheduled for March 28 and April 11 2015.
According to the National chairman, Information and Voters Education Committee,(IVEC), Dr. Chris Iyimoga in its advocacy and media parley, said, “since the re-scheduling of the elections, it had not rested on its oars, but had taken advantage of the period of extension to perfect its processes, and to ensure that it added value to the electoral process”.
National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Dr. Chris Iyimoga, expressed the Commission’s readiness for the 2015 polls while briefing members of the INEC Press Corps at the Commission’s Headquarters yesterday.
Dr. Iyimoga further explained that, even though at the time of the re-scheduling of the 2015 General Elections on the 7th of February, the Commission was in a comfortable position to conduct the elections, he pointed out that, INEC had made remarkable improvements in its preparation for the elections before the shift.
He said, the Commission had distributed 55,232,874 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) representing 80.24 percent of 68,833476 registered voters, surpassing the eighty per cent (80%) threshold of the collection of the PVCs nationwide.
He reiterated that; “even though the Commission had satisfactorily tested the Smart Card Readers (SCRs) before the re-scheduling of the elections, it is to further conduct more rigorous field testing of the functionality of the SCRs which will be deployed for accreditation of voters on Election Day. Two states from each of the six geopolitical zones of the federation will be involved in the field testing which will take place simultaneously on Saturday, 7th March 2015”.
The states selected for the exercise are: Ekiti and Lagos, (South West); Anambra and Ebonyi, (South East); Delta and Rivers, (South South); Kano and Kebbi, (North West); Bauchi and Taraba, (North East); Niger and Nasarawa, (North Central).
The National Commissioner also informed newsmen that as at Tuesday, February 12, 2015, the Commission had received ballot papers meant for all the elections and taken them to the states.
“They are securely locked at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) vaults across the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), awaiting further distribution at the eve of each of the elections. We have also received and distributed all ballot boxes meant for the elections”, he emphasized.
The National Commissioner allayed concerns over alleged rumors of clamour for the removal of the INEC boss, Prof Attahiru Jega, assuring Nigerians that the Commission remained focused and would not be distracted from delivering on its mandate of free, fair and credible elections. Said he; “the clamour for the removal of Jega is not a distraction because, INEC remains focused to deliver the best elections”.
Mean while, As the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), continues its series of consultations and dialogue with critical stakeholders in the electoral process ahead of the March 28 and April 11 general elections, the Commission has expressed its commitment towards ensuring that marginalized groups such as People Living With Disabilities (PLWDs), Youths and Women fully participate in the elections.
National Commissioner, Dame Nne Gladys Nwafor, while speaking at a one-day sensitization forum for PLWDs, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Youths, held at Immaculate Suites Abuja, said the Commission was determined to accommodate marginalized groups and all interest groups in the electoral process.
“Please permit me to inform all hitherto marginalized groups that the Commission has continued to match words with action, in its resolve to accommodate the interest of all groups in the electoral process”, she said.
The National Commissioner explained that: “the Commission has transcribed Voter Education materials such as the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), Dates and Types of Elections, Electoral Offences and Penalties, Correct and Wrong Thumb Printing of Ballot into Braille.”
She also said that: “the Commission’s Voter Education programme on AIT and NTA, the INEC Half Hour, is now PLWD friendly as we now have a sign language interpreter on the programme”, adding that the use of sign language in most of the Commission’s jingles and adverts with some dedicated exclusively to PLWDs, has also improved interest and participation in the electoral process.
Dame Nne Nwafor further said that: “INEC has introduced Election Day innovations, which make it mandatory for PLWDs and other vulnerable groups to be accorded priority in the queue during voting.”
She commented on the mutually beneficial relationship between the Commission and Nigerian youths, saying, “we now have Ambassadors from the ranks of the Nigerian youth, partnering with the Commission on the need for peaceful elections.”
The National Commissioner urged Civil Society Organizations to bridge the gap between the Commission and the people for whom the Commission is committed to delivering free, fair, credible and peaceful elections.
