×

Poor Awareness Marred Anambra Governorship Election — Observer

The president of the Voters Awareness Initiative, Mr. Wale Ogunade, has identified poor awareness as the cause of the irregularities that led to the declaration … Continue reading Poor Awareness Marred Anambra Governorship Election — Observer


Wale Ogunade.The president of the Voters Awareness Initiative, Mr. Wale Ogunade, has identified poor awareness as the cause of the irregularities that led to the declaration of the Anambra governorship election as inconclusive.

Mr. Ogunade, who observed the election, said that the electoral process did not meet the compliance standard, as voters’ accreditation schedule for 8:00am began around 9:00am local time in all 21 local councils in the state.

On Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, he pointed out that the electoral commission had, few days to the election, put in place strategies that would ensure a successful election.

“But a square peg was placed in a round hole on the day of the election. There was no proper monitoring. What Nigerians want is delivery and not excuses,” he said.

He insisted that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, should have been present in Anambra State to monitor the election.

In the election that has generated much criticism, voters’ names were missing in the register, an anomaly that the electoral body has been held responsible for.

But Mr. Ogunade stressed that the voters, political parties and INEC should take the blame for the missing names in the register.

Three Point Challenge

“Election starts form registration. There is a period for Claims and Objections. It is a time set aside by the electoral commission for voters and political parties to cross check the register for possible missing names and make complaints.

“I went round and about 5 people accosted me about their names not being in the register. They told me that they were not aware that they were to check the register for Claims and Objections. If information is not passed round, how will people know?

“It is a three point challenge. Are the people interested in the electoral process? The political parties, did they involve themselves in voters’ education? Did INEC conduct mass enlightenment of the general public as to their activities?” he asked.

He called for a total cancelation of the election, insisting that the election did not meet compliance standard.

A total cancelation and proper monitoring of the election by Jega, he said, would be a more appropriate decision to take at the moment.

“If the election is not cancelled there will be a legal process after the supplementary election and this will kill the political life of Anambra State” he stressed.

As reactions continue to trail the much publicised governorship election, the All Progressives Congress’ candidate, Chris Ngige and the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Tony Nwoye, are insisting on a total cancelation of the electing alleging that it was ‘massively rigged’.

INEC claims that the election had substantial compliance while APGA, the purported leading party in the election, described INEC’s performance as ‘excellent’, insisting that the anomalies were only in a spot – Idemili North Local Government Area.