Anambra gov’ship: Disagreement over ‘gifts’ for INEC

The Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikwe University, Prof. Chinyere Okunna, has drawn the attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to an allegation from one of the governorship candidates in Anambra State, who suggested that there is an attempt to induce the electoral body.

In a swift reaction, the Anambra Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, refuted the allegation.

The duo spoke yesterday in Abuja at a policy dialogue series organised by The Electoral Institute (TEI) on the ‘Anambra Governorship Election: Critical Issues and What INEC Should Do to Ensure Successful Polls’, chaired by the institute’s board Chairman, Prof. Ikechukwu Ibeanu.

Prof. Okunna, who was the lead paper presenter at the dialogue, quoted the PDP candidate as insinuating that Governor Willie Obiano might be attempting to induce INEC with cars and other materials ahead of the November 18 governorship election.

She, therefore, urged INEC to reject all gifts at this stage of electioneering process, stating that the Federal Government had the capacity to empower the electoral body with everything it required.

In his reaction, the Anambra State REC, Dr. Orji, said the repair of the commission’s office which was being misconstrued as assistance from an outsider was funded by the INEC headquarters.

“I should be the one to refute the allegation. Anambra INEC has not received any kobo from anybody. We repaired our facilities through INEC. That is the source of the funding. The INEC is fully funding the work we are doing now,” he said.

On what INEC should do to ensure a successful election, Prof. Okunna tasked the commission to keep electoral officials under surveillance because of possible financial inducement, provide adequate security, display voters’ register, deploy the right technology and coordinate activities of the election monitoring groups.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who was represented by Chairman, Board of Electoral Institute (BEI), said the Anambra election would be used to demonstrate to the electorate that, “It is no longer business as usual.”

He said INEC was ready to conduct a free, fair and credible election in the build up to the 2019 general elections.