The Polling Unit Ambassadors of Nigeria (PUAN), Anambra State Chapter, Ambassador Nnebedum Anthony, paid a courtesy visit to the Management of INEC, Anambra State, recently.
Ambassador Anthony said ‘PUAN’ is an INEC-accredited Civil Society Organization established to contribute to ensuring free, fair and credible elections.
The Organization is present in other developed nations like the United States of America, and other western countries.
The Administrative Secretary of INEC, Anambra State, Mr. Jude Okwuonu in a speech stated that the Civil Society Organizations (including PUAN) have been effective in ensuring that Nigeria has credible, free and fair elections.
Mr. Okwuonu assured PUAN of INEC’s support and affirmed that the two organizations will collaborate and partner in the state without reservations for the forthcoming general elections.
He also beckoned on PUAN to help in the sensitization and mobilisation of members of the electorate to collect their Permanent Voter Cards, (PVCs), before the February and March 2023 general elections in Nigeria.
Vote buying
Mr. Okwuonu said that the issue of vote buying can be approached through preventive measures where the electorates are sensitized to the effect and danger of selling their votes for a meager amount of money that cannot sustain them through curative measures; whereby an attempt to vote buying in any Polling Unit on election day, is reported to INEC through its hotlines, and the defaulters will be punished accordingly.
The Head of the Department of Information and Communications Technology, (ICT), in the State, Engineer Philip Nnaji, emphasised while speaking on the collection of Voters Identification Numbers (VINs), by Politicians that it is not feasible, given the level of technological development attained by the INEC.
During the interactive Session, the Admin Secretary, while answering questions on the consequences of double registrations, he stated that it attracts the penalty of deleting the registrant.
He also said that it could attract prosecution and penalty for the person involved.
Speaking on punctuality on election days, Ambassador Chinedum Okonkwo appealed to INEC to make sure that their staff at various Local Government Area Offices report to their Polling Units early and carry out their duties effectively.
However, the Administrative Secretary, Mr. Jude Okwuonu beckoned on PUAN members who are at the grassroots to report any unruly behaviour of any INEC Staff serving in their Local Government Areas to INEC Office through this phone number:07043528329.
Olusola Akintonde
