EARLY DEPLOYMENT OF ELECTORAL MATERIALS : INEC to Adopt RAC Approach

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says it will adopt the Registration Area Centres, RAC approach for the early deployment of electoral materials to polling centres during the 2019 elections.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Enugu State, Mr. Emeka Ononamadu, said the method, which was part of the concluded preparation for the election worked effectively during the Osun election.

Mr. Ononamadu while briefing journalists after a one day sensitisation workshop for traditional and religious leaders at INEC headquarters Enugu, urged the leaders to use their positions to canvass for the collection of the Permanent Voter Cards, PVC at their respective areas of registration. The Director National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mr. Isaac Onukwube tasked the participants to eschew voter apathy and also to assist the agency in voter education to sensitise the people to the need of performing their civic duties.

The Executive Director of a non-governmental organisation, South Sahara Development Organisation, Mrs. Nkechinyere Igwe said the reason for the collaboration with the agencies of government was to drive home the peculiarity of the 2019 general election, to shun vote buying and how best the target group would impact positively on the people.

Two of the participants, traditional ruler of Okpanku, Nsukka Local Government Area, Igwe Raphel Ezeh and Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN Secretary in Enugu State, Apostle Joseph Ajujungwa pointed out that inadequate manpower in distribution of PVCs, alleged brutalization of citizens by security agencies, late arrival of sensitive and non sensitive materials during elections among others contributed to loss of confidence in the system. The sensitisation workshop which was organised in conjunction with INEC, NOA and the South Sahara Development Organisation was tagged Voter Pre-election dialogue in Enugu, towards credible 2019 elections.

CHUKWUMA EZOGU