LG Elections: Stakeholders Charge Akwa Ibom Electoral Commission to Ensure Credible, Acceptable Polls
By Dennis Udoma, Uyo
Ahead of the local government elections in Akwa Ibom State on Saturday, stakeholders have tasked Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC), to ensure the outcome of the Council polls is credible and acceptable to the electorate.
Commissioner representing Akwa Ibom in the Federal Character Commission, Abuja, Obonganwan Dora Ebong, Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Linus Nkan and the Paramount ruler of Etinan, HRM (Edidem) Aniefiok Akpanobong were among those calling for transparent and credible elections by the electoral body.
They spoke at a stakeholders engagement with leaders and candidates of political parties for the local government elections billed for Saturday October 5, 2024.
Obonganwan Ebong said, AKISIEC for a long time has never impressed the electorate with acceptable outcomes of it’s election in the Local Government, only that it announced results to favour a particular party in power.
She tasked the agency that, in the Saturday elections, it would not be business as usual as it ha to prove to the electorate that, indeed it is an independent umpire.
According to her, “this time around, AKISIEC should know that we the electorate want a free and fair elections; and nobody’s ambition is worth any person’s blood.
“Again, to the candidates if your ambition is such that, it infringes on another person’s right it means, it is a selfish ambition, not people oriented”, she said.
The Etinan Paramount ruler, Akpanobong expressed the optimism that, the stakeholders engagement was apt as it provided a platform for people to interact and say their minds.
He prayed that, if leaders at the grassroots accept constructive criticisms as a mirror on performance, it would go a long way to correcting the ills and strengthen governce.
Guest of honour at the meeting, Dr. Linus Nkan commended the Center for Human Rights and Advocacy Network (CHRAN) for the initiative saying that, “the most fundamental principle defining free, fair and credible elections is that, it must reflect the free expression of the will of the people”.
To achieve this, he stated that, such election should be transparent, inclusive, and trusted by voters and those elected.
“There must be equitable opportunities to compete in the elections and genuine political competition. These broad principles are enshrined in key obligations, rights, and freedoms which are derived from Fundamental Human Rights,” he stressed.
Dr. Nkan expressed the confidence that, a review of the political dynamics on ground, key electoral stakeholders level of commitment and capacities to promote electoral integrity in the state is optimal.
Keynote speaker and Deputy Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Chief Saviour Enyiekerein his paper titled , “Advancing free, fair and credible elections in Akwa Ibom State” said, the success of elections is truly a collaborative effort, as everyone involve is vital to achieving the desired outcomes.
He enjoined participants to see the elections as job interviews, rather than desperate effort to impose our personal wishes over the will of the people.
While praising CHRAN for the parley, Chief Enyiekerein however, charged the organization to ensure that the discussions and observations are effectively utilized by all relevant stakeholders to safeguard human rights and promoting accountability in our electoral process.
Chairman of the occasion, Barrister Usenobong Akpabio while declaring the meeting opened, said the event was apt and important that, the entire world know about the forthcoming elections in the state.
He maintained that, participants should sit in to learn few lessons that can assist them in the proper conduct of their themselves prior to the election proper.
AKISIEC Chairman, Aniedi Ikoiwak represented by Elder Eyaekop Umana said, the agency was fully ready for elections as materials have already been distributed to the respective local governments in the state.
He enjoined the candidates to do their campaigns as election is a process, not event.
To reduce the fears if rigging, he stated that, results shall be announced at voting units once the exercise are concluded before moving to the collation centers.
Earlier, State Director of CHRAN, Otuekong Franklyn Isong said, the stakeholders engagement in collaboration with AKISIEC was to deepen the Democratic ethos at the local government level, and modest effort at peace and confidence building before, during and after the local government elections in the State.
Our correspondent observed that, only the State Chairman of National Rescue Movement (NRM) attended the meeting, while non of the chairmanship and counsellorship candidates showed up.
