2019: INEC tasks lecturers on credibility to ensure free and fair elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the weekend urged lecturers at various institutions in Nigeria, who have been engaged for the 2019 general elections, not to compromise their integrity.

Resident Electoral Commissioner in Anambra State, Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, dropped the advice during a town hall meeting organized by academics in tertiary Institutions in South-East and South-South under the auspices of Academic Frontiers Initiative (AFI) Anambra chapter.

Dr Orji, a Political Scientist, called on the lecturers to live above board and ensure that the 2019 general elections remains the best in the annals of Nigeria’s democratic history as according to him INEC has perfected plans to give Nigerians a free, fair and credible election this year.

He said, “delivery of a credible election depends on everybody including the lecturers who serve as collation and Returning Officers during the election based on integrity reposed on them.

“The voter apathy always experienced in Anambra state during elections is unacceptable, webare calling on all to endeavour to perform their civic responsibility,” the Anambra REC represented by the Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, Leo Nkedife, said.

He also lamented that over 300,000 PVCs remained unclaimed in Anambra state out of the over two million persons registered in the state.

He condemned vote buying and asked stakeholders to mobilize their people to come out and vote on election day since it is of no use registering over two million votes but only 22 per cent come out to vote.

The REC urged political parties to nominate credible people as their party agents to assist in the credibility of the elections’ outcome.