ANSIEC'll Conduct Free, Fair Election - Chairman
From Charles Onyekamuo in Awka
Chairman of Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, (ANSIEC), Chief Cornel Umeh, has assured that the commission would conduct a free and fair election in all the state local government councils come December 18.
Umeh, who was speaking during an interaction with leaders and representatives of the 30 registered political parties weekend in Awka, pledged the commission's neutrality as an unbiased umpire in the forthcoming elections. He said a level-playing ground would be provided to all the political parties wishing to contest the election.
He counselled the parties to shun violence during the elections and warned that his commission would not tolerate any kind of interference from any quarter.
Umeh vowed to resist interference from any quarter in the discharge of his duties and pledged to resign his appointment if he was not given free hands to operate, adding that the commission would be guided by the provisions of the enabling laws in the conduct of the forthcoming elections. He said the commssion cannot come to the aid of parties having internal problems.
His words: "The commission, as a neutral body is not an appendage of any political party. Therefore all the 30 political parties are encouraged to feel free to interact with the commission, Mondays through Fridays between 8.00am - 4.00pm on any issue bothering on the conduct of the forthcoming elections.
"Let me use this opportunity to stress that it is the responsibility of the political parties to present credible candidates for the forthcoming local council pools. This commission is not interested in the internal wranglings of any political lparty."
"Election is a contest just like football match. ANSIEC as an unbiased, impartial umpire has the duty to officiate the election process with transparent honesty, openness and fear of God. It is the duty of the political parties as teams in a fair contest where the rules and regulations are clearly spelt out as contained in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, 2002, and other enabling laws to prepare their team well for the contest, field their candidates well in advance and liaise with the commission because our roles are complimentary to each other," he said.
ANSIEC chairman called on politicians to eschew political violence, thuggery and electoral fraud.
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