BNW

B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News

Sections News Editorial/Opinion Cover Choice Arts & Life Business Politics Sports   Subscription Form Click here          Daily Independent Online.         * Friday, July 23, 2004. Anambra SIEC wants Electoral Act reviewed By Okey Maduforo, Correspondent Awka   The unduly long time it takes to determine election petitions is a cause of concern for the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ASIEC),  it has therefore called for a review of the Electoral Act to specify a short period of petition resolution and the removal of standard proof of criminal elements in petitions. The commission also called for an audit of the election and electioneering expenses of candidates and their political parties to discourage moneybags from hijacking the polity. These were among the 16-paragraph recommendations in a communiqu� at the end of a seminar in Awka for stakeholders to reflect on past elections and the vision for 2007. It was organised by ASIEC. The seminar, attended by political parties, representatives of non-governmental organisations and civil society groups, also recommended for a single five-year tenure for the president and governors as a way of overcoming the destructive consequences of incumbents seeking re-election and also provide a level playing ground for all contestants. It also called for a constitutional conference to create a sustainable structure to elicit patriotic zeal from the citizens and sanitise the electoral process, adding that in its mass mobilisation effort, the commission should reorient its staff towards honesty, encourage general attitudinal change. The workshop also recommended that INEC should institute an open reporting system requiring the use of result boards at each level of collation, adding that politicians should stop tempting INEC officials with money, while officials should resist monetary overtures from politicians. It said government should improve the standard of living of the masses to discourage corruption and apathy and it also stressed the need for increased security during election. The workshop urged INEC to play the role of an unbiased arbiter so as to rekindle the interest of the electorate and encourage participation in the electoral process. It also stressed the need for greater co-operation between the citizenry and the police to halt electoral offences.       Copyright� 2002. All Rights Reserved Independent Newspapers Limited Block5, Plot 7D, Wempco Road, Ogba, P.M.B. 21777, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria. www.independentng.com e-mail: [email protected]

	BNW News
Voice of Biafra | Biafra World | Biafra Online | Biafra Web | MASSOB | Biafra Forum | BLM | Biafra Consortium
	© 2001 BNW BiafraNigeriaWorld  Privacy Policy ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by ACENetwork ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
	Axiom PSI Yam Festival Series, Iri Ji Nd'Igbo the Kola-Nut Series,Nigeria Masterweb