C’River REC Wants Cameras At Polling Units

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Cross River, Mr Mike Igini wants residents of the state to come to the polling stations with their video cameras to record the governorship election.

Igini said in Calabar that “You are free to come to the polling units with your video cameras to record proceedings at every polling unit and collation centre.

“What we want is openness, we want the people of Cross River and Nigerians to take ownership of the electoral process in this country.”

Igini told The Tide’s source that INEC was ready to conduct a free and fair governorship election on Feb. 25, in the state.

He, however, said that politicians, should campaign to get their mandate from the electorate, instead of getting them from the courts.

According to him, politicians had been spending a lot of resources on litigations at the electoral tribunals, hence he advised that such resources should rather be utilised for the development of the country.

“We have spent so much money on tribunal cases. Such money should have been used for development of Nigeria, the REC said.

He said that it was the desire of INEC to put an end to endless litigations at electoral tribunals in Nigeria.

Igini continued that INEC in Cross River was determined to make Cross River one of the states that would start the process that would make politicians to accept election results without going to the tribunal.

The REC said no fewer than three security personnel would be at every polling unit in the state in the forthcoming election.

He advised political parties to provide INEC with the list and pictures of their agents, who would be expected at the polling units for the election.

“The list of all agents of political parties that will be present at every polling unit with their pictures should be submitted seven days before the elections.

“This is to ensure that at every polling unit you have the presence of all the agents,’’ he said.

Igini said that INEC would sanction anybody, who failed to adhere to the rules of the game.

“And to the electorates I say, you have a responsibility, people should not go to polling units to canvass for votes 24 hours before the elections.

“There should be no campaign within that period; we will be watching out. In fact, that was one of the key issues in our security meeting.

“All the security agents should ensure that at every polling unit, those who make the mistake of coming there to canvass for votes will be arrested,’’ he said.

He warned that politicians, who distribute money, during the elections would be arrested.

“On the day of the election, it is a punishable offence to campaign.

“We shall discipline anybody found to have either been distributing money or canvassing for votes at any polling unit,’’ Igini said.