Anambra Election: I’m Not Under Pressure To Deliver Anybody, Says REC

Chukwujekwu Ilozue

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra State Dr. Elizabeth Agwu has said that she is not under pressure to deliver any candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

Dr. Agwu who gave the assurance at a stakeholders’ engagement on preparedness for a Disability Inclusive Governorship Election in Awka also reassured the commission’s commitment to a hitch-free election in the November 8 gubernatorial polls in Anambra state.

“There will be no hitches; we have not had hitches in Anambra. We have alternative networks and backups that guarantee hitch-free exercise”.

The event, organised TAF AFRICA, was aimed at ensuring stakeholders, namely Police, Civil Defence, Civil Societies and the Media were abreast with provisions of the electoral law on how to relate with Persons With Disabilities during and after the election.

Agwu further confirmed availability of non-sensitive materials for the election.

The REC further said INEC would deploy disability assistive tools including braille for the visually impaired, magnifying glasses for people with albinism as well as form EC30 for the hearing impaired to aid them during the exercise

She assured efforts were on by the Commission to ensure that such class of persons participate not just as voters but also work as electoral officials during the election.

Identifying voter apathy as the biggest threat to the election, Agwu also called on eligible voters to come out enmass to exercise their franchise instead of seating back and concluding the process has been predetermined.

Chief Executive Officer, TAF AFRICA, Amb Jake Epelle disclosed that the organisation would deploy some 150 persons with disabilities as observers for the election

He said the group would also deploy 25 sign language interpreters to areas with high density of persons with hearing impairment to assist them participate in the election.

“PWDs have rights to priority voting which provide that they are allowed to vote before others or as soon as they arrive at their polling units,” he said.

Police Spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga
said the Command was preparing seriously to ensure peaceful poll, including training of personnel across the state with special attention to persons with disabilities.

“Restriction of movement during election is a security strategy and not to punish anybody but we advise those who want to vote to go towards the area they want to cast their votes before the election day,” he added.

State Chairman, Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke commended INEC for efforts to run an all-inclusive election.

He, however, appealed to the media to always provide them with up-to-date information to allay fears occasioned by peddlers of fake news and misinformation.

Edwin Okadigbo, representing the NSCDC, said the command had a PWD desk Officer to demonstrate the priority the agency is according persons with special needs.

Mr Okadigbo said the Desk had been activated for purposes of the election, namely, to ensure PWDs are not intimidated, discriminated against or disenfranchised in any way.