New Voters Register Crucial For 2011 Elections

Despite the short period ahead the 2011 elections, a member of the Rivers State Independent Election Commission (RSIEC), Barrister Nimi Walson-Jack says a review of the voters register is crucial for  free and fair elections.

Barrister Walson-Jack made the assertion while speaking on the topic, “The Church, the Ballot and Good Governance: Expectations for 2011”, at the August Seminar of the Men’s Missionary Union of the First Baptist Church in Port Harcourt.

He maintained that a review of the voters register would reduce the over-bloated register and duplication of the past, adding that determining the actual figures of the electorates would guarantee a better voting exercise.

Though he noted that the duration for the exercise is short, he opined that in the alternative, the Independent National Electoral Commission could liase with the National Population to determine figures of qualified voters.

Currently he stated, that Rivers State has about 2.8 million voters, which according to him hardly turn up to vote during elections.

He argued that the conduct of the last local government elections in 2008 indicates that the figure is either lower and inflated considering the few votes recorded at the different polling stations across the state.

Barrister Walson-Jack berated the church for displaying apathy in issues concerning politics. This posture he stressed makes the political arena to be dominated by corrupt leaders.

He asserted that from the Biblical days, God has shown that good leadership is noted in the people’s participation as displayed in the character of Moses and Joseph in the Old Testament.

The RSIEC Commissioner-in-charge of Public Affairs and Civil Education stressed that God  will every nation to enjoy good governance by choosing good leaders and God fearing servants.

Even in the New Testament, he argued that Jesus Christ did not condemn  politics but bad leaders who were misleading the people.

Aside participating in electoral activities, he urged the church to encourage its members to contest elections. He noted that the country needs good leaders and the church stands great chance of providing them.