By John Ugo, Awka
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has tasked traditional institutions and town union executives to work collaboratively with various security agencies towards ensuring effective security around the commission’s offices across the 21 local government areas and three senatorial districts ahead of the 2023 elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Anambra’ State Dr. Elizabeth Agwu gave the charge during a meeting with traditional rulers and Presidents-general (PGs) of all the communities in Anambra Central Senatorial zone at the state on Tuesday at the INEC’s headquarters in Awka, the state capital.
Dr. Agwu harped on the need for the community leaders to brace up for the challenges of putting in place adequate security arrangements for guaranteed and secured environment for the smooth conduct of next year’s elections.
She disclosed that an additional 283, 431 Permanebt Voyers Cards (PVCs) have been delivered to the commission in the state by the national headquarters.
The latest number of delivered PVCs were outside the previous 132, 626 PVCs being distributed to registered voters by the Commission in the 21 local government areas of the state.
The REC urged the monarchs and PGs not to relent in their efforts to sensitise and mobilize registered voters on the importance of PVC collection lin readiness for the polls.
She warned politicians and others indulging in buying and selling of PVCs to desist from such acts, pointing out that anyone caught would face the full weight of the law.
According to Agwu the law does not allow collection of PVCs by another person as “one’s husband is not even allowed to collect his wife’s PVC for her, and, one’s wife is not allowed to collect her husband’s PVC for him.
“PVCs are highly valued and that is why they are buying them from their owners to disenfranchise those people they purchased their PVCs . So, don’t sell your PVCs; guard them jealousy”, she said.
She noted that every security issue is localised and there is no criminal element in any community who is not known by the locals.
“As community leaders, the INEC views you as critical stakeholders in providing adequate security to INEC facilities and putting in place adequate security measures during elections.”
The traditional ruler of Okpuno community, Awka-South local government, HRH Igwe S. I. Okafor and some of the Presidents-general in their reactions promises to partner the commission towards a hitch free 2023 general elections.
They also pledged to set up security measures to protect INEC facilities even as promised to sensitize their wards to collect their PVCs in their respective areas.