2023: INEC Collaborates With Ebonyi Traditional Rulers For Peaceful Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has entered into a partnership with Traditional Rulers of Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria to ensure a peaceful Election in 2023.

The partnership is to use all the Traditional Rulers as an instrument of peacekeeping in their various Communities throughout the electioneering period.

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the State, Dr. Joseph Chukwu disclosed this during an interactive meeting with the Traditional Rulers Council in Abakaliki, the State capital.

Dr. Chukwu said the meeting was aimed at providing a platform to enable the electoral body and the Ebonyi Royal Fathers to exchange ideas on the best ways to avoid violence before, during and after the elections.

The REC added that the conventional and social media had been awash with disturbing reports of pre-election violence in some parts of Ebonyi communities hence, the need to find ways to curb the situation.

“This alleged politically motivated violence amongst members of the different political parties in some states of the federation including Ebonyi is giving a serious concern to the commission.

“It is gladdening to inform the Royal Fathers that the new electoral act 2022 has given legal backing to INEC to deploy technology to enhance the credibility of the electoral process. This has given birth to the deployment of the INEC Voter Enrollment Device (IVED), Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.

All these are to ensure credibility in the voting system”. Chukwu said.

“As the custodian of the people’s culture and tradition and as the ones who superintendent over the affairs of the people at the grassroots level, we believe that you have a very important role to play in making the 2023 elections credible and devoid of violence in your communities.” He added.

Chukwu urged the traditional rulers to appeal to the candidates, their supporters and youths from their communities and domains to conduct their campaigns, rallies and meeting by the provisions of the 2022 Electoral law and other extant laws.

“Appeal to the politicians especially candidates and their supporters to eschew the use of foul and provocative words or indulging in other actions that may likely provoke violent reactions or emotions during their rallies, processions and meetings.

“We want to stress that destruction of campaign billboards and posters of candidates as well as preventing political parties from using public places for their rallies are against the provisions of the 2022 electoral act”. He stated.

The REC revealed that the 2023 general elections in Ebonyi would be conducted in 2,946 polling units in the 171 electoral wards of the state.

“I want to let you know that the commission is working hard to ensure completion of the printing of the PVC for those registered after the first quarter of 2022 as well as those who applied for transfer or replacement of their lost or damaged PVCs,” he said.

In addition, the INEC Administration Secretary in the State, Barrister Clement Oha, thanked the Traditional Rulers for attending the interactive meeting.

The Chairman Southeast Traditional Rulers Council, Dr. Charles Nkpuma pledged the readiness of the royal fathers to partner with the commission to achieve credible, transparent and violence-free elections, not only in Ebonyi State but also in the entire Southeast.

Olusola Akintonde