INEC places utmost importance in planning and keeping to time lines for the conduct of elections- Okoye …… Campaigns to commence on the 8th of August 2021. 

Oru Leonard

The National Commissioner and Chairman Voter Education and Publicity Committee of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),  Barrister Festus Okoye has said that INEC places utmost importance in planning and keeping to time lines for the conduct of elections.

Okoye made the statement in his remarks at the implementation meeting of the Voter Education and the Publicity Department for the 6TH November 2021 Anambra  State Governorship election in Awka on Tuesday, August 3, 2021.

Barr Okoye noted that 95 days being the number of days counting from 3rd August to 6TH November 2021 to the Governorship election in Anambra State  is a daunting task. He said, “For this Commission, 95 days to the conduct of any election is a race against time and preparations must be in top gear”.

He also said the Commission places utmost importance in planning and keeping to time lines for the conduct of elections. On the basis of this the Commission pre-delivered over 50% of the non-sensitive materials for the conduct of the election well ahead of time.

Recalling the saddening moments and effects of attack on INEC facility in the Awka, he stated, “The Commission was deeply saddened therefore, when the premises of its Anambra State Head Office went up in flames not too long ago, destroying buildings, equipment and utility vehicles. We have substantially recovered from the inferno as the Commission is not permitted to wallow in self-pity in the face of a Governorship election whose timeline is constitutionally circumscribed and cast in stone.

“The Commission is resolute in its commitment to the delivery of good elections. It is determined therefore to ensure that not even the recent ugly incident will undermine the smooth process and delivery of a good governorship election in Anambra State come 6th November 2021.”

He enjoined all the stakeholders to work closely with the Commission in a productive partnership.

He said the essence of this Meeting is for a section of key implementors of the scheme for the governorship election in Anambra State, especially those involved with public enlightenment and field dissemination of information to update their service delivery plans and ensure effective implementation of public enlightenment in the home stretch towards the election. The meeting was  also to help update  stakeholders knowledge on recent developments in the electoral process, with particular reference to the crucial election in Anambra State taking place on the 6th November 2021 election.

“The Commission considers it very important that stakeholders are availed of all relevant information on the processes, regulations and expectations from all concerned citizens before, during and after the election.
“This meeting will also assist us to update our knowledge of recent developments in the electoral process, with particular reference to the crucial election in Anambra State taking place on the 6th November 2021 election. As you all know, the Commission places high premium on the deployment of technology in the conduct of elections. This very practice which has become a part and parcel of the operations and activities of the Commission have impacted tremendously on the quality of elections in the country. It is important that you update your knowledge on some of these technology- driven processes and procedures of the Commission. There is no doubt that the deployment of technology in the delivery of over 26 bye elections since the 2019 general elections remarkably reduced the impact of human interferences in the outcome of the elections.

“The Commission was able to show a clear capacity to deliver credible election, ensuring more especially that the results from the polling units were not tampered with and that they reflect the will of the voters” he disclosed.

Barr Okoye said it was necessary to be mindful of the messages being relayed to stakeholders and the communities so that there will be no loop holes in the preparations for the conduct of the 6th November 2021 election in Anambra State.