2015 Polls, Integrity Test For INEC – Amaechi …Declares Today Work Free …As PVC Issuance Begins In Rivers

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi has expressed doubts over the possibility of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free and fair elections next year.
In a chat with journalists in Government House yesterday in Port Harcourt, Amaechi said the body language of INEC does not portray a fair electoral umpire.
“The elections in 2015 will be free but may not be fair”, Amaechi observed.
The governor stressed that a situation where the army and Police would be used in the elections would not guarantee  free and fair elections.
While stressing the need to provide a level playing ground for all parties, he expressed the hope that INEC would not fail in its promise to conduct free and fair elections.
He tasked the media to stand up to its responsibility, adding, “this time your vote must count and journalists must be at the forefront”.
Commenting on the plan by INEC to commence the distribution of permanent voters card in only seven local government areas in the state, Amaechi said, “we sympathise with INEC and pray they do something about the remaining local government areas”.
Rt. Hon. Amaechi apprised his administration, saying “I hear some Rivers people say I have performed. I’am quite different from others in the PDP. I stood my ground as a governor that the people’s mandate is critical”.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has declared today, Friday  public holiday to enable citizens go and collect their permanent voters’ cards.
“Tomorrow has been declared a work free day. It’s important for each and everyone of us to go and collect their voter’s card”, he said.
He warned that any registered voter that failed to collect would not exercise his franchise and also urged those of voting age to go and register to be able to vote in next year elections.
Meanwhile, in preparation for the 2015 general elections, collection of Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) and Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) by eligible voters will end in the first week of December 2014.
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega made this known in Port Harcourt during an INEC stakeholder’s interactive session.
Jega, who was represented by the Supervisory National Commissioner, INEC, for Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, Mrs. Thelma Iremiren, stated however that the exercise will commence first in seven Local Government Areas of the State today (Friday, November 7)
The LGAs are Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ogu/Bolo, Okrika, Omuma, Opobo/Nkoro, Oyibo and Tai.
According to the INEC boss, another date will be annouced for voters in other LGAs.
“The current exercise will be in the seven LGAs and the exercise covering the entire State (both PVC and CVR) will be completed no later than first week in December, 2014.The new dates will be communicated to you, and we regret any inconvenience which this may cause. Notwithstanding, we seek your understanding and cooperation in ensuring that the exercise in its totality is a success”, he said.
Iremiren said “the exercise in these LGAs will be for three days and will be followed by the CVR exercise from 13th to 17th November 2014”, noting that “the 18th of November has been set aside for claims and objections”.
In his presentation, the Rivers State Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Oliver Wolugbom, assured on the Agency’s readiness to ensure a hitch-free election in 2015.
“The NOA is committed to work with INEC and all stakeholders to ensure a successful distribution of the PVC and the CVR exercise for a free and credible election in 2015”, he said.
While noting the importance of both exercises, the NOA boss called on all stakeholders to play roles genuinely expected of them.
“The NOA therefore calls on all Nigerians to shun election violence and rigging of all kinds. Politicians should stick to the election guidelines; INEC should ensure fair distribution of election materials and transparent election process”, he said.
Also, INEC said it would make use of the biometrics of every voter to ensure transparency in the general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said in Port Harcourt that nobody would be able to vote more than once.
Jega   urged voters in Rivers State to ensure that they obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), adding that without it, they would not vote.
While soliciting the cooperation of the stakeholders to conduct a hitch-free election, Jega asked the people to assist the commission in making the PVCs’ distribution a success.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State, Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak promised that the commission would conduct a hitch-free election next year, adding that it would also be neutral.

Vice Chancellor, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu, Prof Barineme B. Fakae (right), in a handshake with erudite Professor Dagogo Fubara, at the 2nd International Conference on Flood and Erosion Prevention, Protection and Mitigation organised by the University in Port Harcourt, recently.