INEC Charged On Free, Fair Elections

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have been warned to conduct a free and fair governorship election in Anambra State come March 2010, or face the consequences of their action.
The national chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, who handed down the warning in a chat with newsmen in Enugu shortly after attending the Anambra State Peoples Assembly (ASPA) meeting held at the old Awka District Hall, Enugu , vowed that any attempt this time around by INEC to impose an unpopular candidate on the people of Anambra State would be vehemently resisted by the people of the state.
Describing the forthcoming 2010 governorship election in Anambra State as an acid test for the survival of democracy in Nigeria, Chief Umeh reasoned that it is the constitutional right of the people of Anambra state to choose who their governor would be.
According to him, it is equally the right of the people of Anambra State to choose who their Senators, House of Reps. Members, State House of Assembly members, local government chairmen and councilors, among others would be, adding that “Nobody would choose these people for us any longer.”
Continuing, Chief Umeh said: “And that is why it is important that those charged with the responsibility of mid – wife elections in Nigeria should concede this right to the people of Anambra State. Nobody should do it for us. The build up to this election is already worrisome”.
INEC, he said, has no option than to conduct a credible election in Anambra State in 2010. Our people are strong willed people. We have been taken for a ride for too long and this is the first time our people are coming out to say that we wouldn’t have it any more the way it is going. So it is better INEC reads the mind-set of the people of Anambra that at this point in time nothing will be acceptable to the people of the state except a free and fair election in 2010.
Maintaining that a lot of programmes are being put in place, such as voting education and mandate protection, Chief Umeh who was not interested in any particular party, but interested in peace and unity in Anambra State noted that with the partnership “which we are putting in the state right now, by December this year, I am sure it would have become obvious to INEC that it is only a credible election that can stand in Anambra State in 2010.”
Hear the APGA chairman: “We are determined to mobilise town unions, the institutions operating in the state, including the churches. We are going to mobilise everybody to ensure that this time around, democracy must be given its correct meaning in Anambra State. Myself, you and others will be allowed to vote for somebody who will be the governor and those votes must be made to count. It would be terrible if INEC decides not to do the right thing”, he further warned.
Chief Umeh further revealed that the Elders forum in Anambra State has also set up a free and fair election committee, pointing out they are equally meeting at their own level with a view to ensuring free and fair election in the state in 2010.
“Everybody is thinking about how the people of Anambra State will be allowed to freely elect a governor of their choice. What we don’t want in Anambra State any more is the imposition of somebody who will be our governor. We don’t want people to decide for us. The people of Anambra State should be left to decide for themselves who will be their next governor”, he stressed.