Jega…INEC boss
Diana Okon-Effiong, Calabar
The resident electoral Commissioner in Cross River, Dr Okey Ezeani, has restated the Commission’s resolve to conduct a free, fair and violent-free 2015 general elections in the state.
Ezeani expressed the resolve at a meeting with members of the Inter Agency Advisory Committee on Voter Education (SICVEP) in Calabar Thursday.
He said that INEC was poised to do the right thing, abide by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and give Nigerians what he called the ownership of the forthcoming elections.
He said the Presidential, Senatorial and House of Representatives poll would hold Feb. 14 respectively while the governorship and state houses of assembly elections would hold Feb. 28 nationwide.
Ezeani said that the distribution of Permanent Voters Card (PVC’s) is a continuous process to terminate by Feb. 8.
He said that Nigerians should exercise patience to collect theirs rather than make a fuse over the exercise, adding relevant electoral laws mandate arrest and imprisonment of those not supposed to be within the polling units.
Ezeani said that INEC had erected a camp he called “Super Rag’’ for relevant electoral officials and security agents close to their registration areas to avoid delays during election.
He said that colour coded ballot boxes and ballot papers with serial numbers would be used respectively for the presidential, senatorial, house of representatives, governorship anf house of assembly elections.
According to him failure by a voter to insert the coloured ballot in relevant coloured ballot boxes would render such vote invalid.
Ezeani stressed the need for SICVEP to sensitise the electorate on the voting process.
“People must be counselled on this. Lots of measures are in place, including use of PVC to empower the electorate to cast their votes on Election Day. Accreditation now goes with the card reader.
“This election will be adjudged free, fair and violent-free. We must respect one another because we always cross parts no matter our positions; try to avoid what is not right and continue on the path of good,’’ Ezeani said.
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