Anambra Deputy Gov Tasks INEC, Electorate to Maximize New Electoral Law

Dr. Nkem Okeke, Anambra State Deputy Governor, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all eligible voters to tap into the new Electoral Act Amendment Bill, signed Into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said that the law signifies call by the president to Nigerians and the Independent National Electoral Commission to be alive to their responsibilities and their political duties as patriotic citizens.

Okeke made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Monday.

He said that the president has demonstrated willingness to promote a credible and transparent elections of representatives across all political elective posts in the country as the people wished.

“Our president has stood by the side of democracy and has distinguished himself as a true democrat,” he said.

Okeke said that principally, the law has provided for the electronic transmission of election results directly from the polling units which has been the yearnings of the people for ages, that President Buhari has granted.

He urged the electoral body to get to business, having been empowered beyond what was obtainable before to ensure that the programme listed in the law is followed religiously.

“Make the details of the law to be within the reach of the public, roll out the activities down to the rural areas in a manner that no mistakes are recorded and ensure that nothing hinders the success of the law.

“We want to have a new electoral body to conduct election and the public would be able to say yes our votes were reflected in the final result.

“Our votes at the polling units were counted, this law is a signpost of the inevitable victory of the will and yearnings of the people.

“We need to curb to its barest level, political insecurity and electoral rascality. We are set to change our world for good, if we can have this done, we can win the war of political imbalance,” he said.

Okeke urged INEC to launch into work now and announce on mountain top days and times of the electioneering process and be bold to apply the law against any erring political party.

“We want to see general election that would be devoid of violence that intend to frustrate the efforts for free, fair and credible elections, come 2023,” Okeke said.

Okeke advised eligible voters who still feel cold about the political activities and are nonchalant in political participation to join hands to build the nation’s political space.