Despite the proposed sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) scheduled to commence on the 5th to 10th November, 2021, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured the people of Anambra State of its determination to proceed with the conduct of the Anambra Governorship election scheduled to hold on November 6, 2021 across the state.
The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC, Mr. Festus Okoye who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja yesterday pointed out that the Commission met in Abuja on Tuesday to review preparations for the governorship election holding on November 6, 2021.
Speaking on submission of list of polling agents, Okoye explained that Section 45 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) required political parties participating in the election to submit names and addresses of their polling agents accompanied by two passport photographs and sample signatures of each polling agent to the Commission at least 14 days before the date fixed for the election.
He added that the last date for the submission of such list for the governorship election was 21st October, 2021.
“In line with the Commission’s avowed commitment to deepen the use of technology in elections, a dedicated portal was designed for political parties to upload the names and other details of their Polling Agents for Polling Units and all the three levels of collation (Registration Areas/Wards, Local Government Areas and State collation). A detailed breakdown of the submissions by political parties has been uploaded to the Commission’s website and social media platforms for public information”, he said.
On collection of PVCs by new registrants, the National Commissioner disclosed that “In our previous update, the Commission informed the public that a total of 138,802 Nigerians completed the registration in Anambra State.
“After a thorough cleaning up of the data, it was discovered that the number of multiple registrants was 62,698. Consequently, the number of valid registrants dropped to 76,104. During the same period, there were 5,674 requests for transfers, update of voter information and replacement of lost or damaged cards, giving a cumulative total of 81,778 PVCs. These cards have been printed and will be delivered to our office in Anambra State on Thursday 28th October 2021.”
He went on to explain that the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Anambra State and his staff shall work out the most efficient means of ensuring that the voters concerned collect their PVCs in earnest.
“Fortunately, the Commission has the telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of all the new registrants. They will be contacted to make the collection seamless”, he added.
He therefore, appealed to all the critical stakeholders and citizens in the state to cooperate with the Commission for a successful exercise.
It will be recalled that IPOB had on Saturday October 23, 2021 issued a statement where it demanded that the Federal Government release it’s leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is undergoing trial in Nigeria by November 4, 2021 or risk ten days sit-at-home exercise to protest his continued detention, a development which has sent panic in the mind of both the election umpire and the general public.
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