USE IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY TO CONDUCT FUTURE ELECTIONS, STAKEHOLDERS IN IMO TELL INEC

Reporter : CHINAZO ILECHUKWU

Participants in a one day stakeholders meeting organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Owerri, have called on the commission to consider the use of technology that will enable eligible voters to exercise their franchise at the comfort of their homes during elections.

One of them, Mr. Magnus Ekeh from the Nigeria Immigration Service, said the emerging security challenges in the country had made it imperative for INEC to fashion out ways of carrying out its duties with minimal exposure to risk.

Another participant and traditional ruler of Umudioka Ancient Kingdom in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State, Eze Thomas Obiefule, while calling for more collaboration between INEC and the traditional institution, stressed the need for the creation of more INEC Wards in the country to accommodate the growing population.

The State Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party,l (PDP), Nze Ray Emeana, appealed to INEC to take steps towards reclaiming the confidence of the electorate in the future elections.

Earlier, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Francis Ezeonu, said the meeting was to interface with stakeholders in the electoral process to the upgrade of over one thousand, two hundred voting points in the state to polling units to decongest the existing ones.

Professor Ezeonu noted that one while assuring the people of the commitment of the commission to conduct credible elections, explained that INEC was making provision for online voter registration to facilitate the exercise.

Participants in the meeting, included representatives of political parties, security agencies, royal fathers, civil society groups, physically challenged persons and the media.