Enugu REC Pledges Level Playing Ground For Parties

The INEC Resident
Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Enugu State, Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukogu, has assured political parties in the state of a level playing ground during the forthcoming general elections.
Addressing newsmen on resumption as the new REC in the state in Enugu, Onukogu
said that his credibility to superintend a credible electoral process needed not to be judged on the outcome of the Nov. 2013 governorship election in Anambra.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu had protested the redeployment of Onukogu to the state, citing the controversy that trailed the Anambra election.
It was reported that prospective voters in 150 polling units in Idemili North Local Government Area in Anambra were allegedly disenfranchised during the 2013 polls supervised by Onukogu.
But the commissioner said the incidence of the 150 polling units needed not overshadow their success in the 4,608 polling units where they excelled.
“Those who took exception to what happened in Anambra are free, but the outcome of that election was a precursor to the successes we recorded in Osun and Ekiti governorship elections.
“What happened in Idemili North was a human factor. I had wanted to write my name in gold by ensuring that all went well until the moment we identified some of the shortcomings,” he said.
Onukogu said that he had another opportunity to perform better and ensure credible elections in the state.
“I want to assure the political parties that this time, we have mastered the scenario and the Anambra mistake will not repeat itself here,” he said.
He said there would be no good governance if people were not allowed to choose their leaders freely.
“We owe it a duty and have resolved that the 2015 election will not only be free and fair, but will command international acceptability.
“I have come to work on the footsteps of my predecessor and at the end we shall be satisfied that we have left a legacy for posterity,” Onukogu said.