The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on the Anambra electorate to take more interest in elections.

Speaking at an event organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in collaboration with a charity organisation owned by the state leader of the Progressive People Alliance (PPA), Mr. Godwin Ezemo, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukaogu, said that there is so much apathy such that a large number of eligible voters usually fail to exercise their franchise during elections.

Onukaogu, who was the guest speaker at the ceremony, noted that INEC had not really involved the electorate in voter education in the state, thus indirectly contributing to the voter apathy.

Onukaogu said: “Many elections in the country since independence had been flawed because the electorate had not been carried along. There is need for vibrant voter education in the country and that is why INEC is changing the tune because the people are suffering from electoral apathy and the situation must change.

“We need to go to the churches, mosques, markets and to the traditional rulers to assist in educating the people.”

The Anambra REC used the forum to announce that the distribution of permanent voter’s cards would commence in the state on July 18 this year.

He stressed that those aged 18 and above whose names would not be in the list should say so on time so as to be registered by INEC.

On his part, the organiser of the event, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, said that what weakens the voters that lead to apathy was imposition of candidates by political parties, which he said frustrates the voters.

He fingered bribery at polling stations, mutilation of results, deliberate late commencement of voting, fraudulent absence of result sheets and other sensitive materials as some of the drawbacks for free and fair election.

“I am convinced that the surest and most civilised means to this freedom presently known to man is the vote through the ballot box and that makes today’s ceremony of deep and compelling necessity,” Ezemo said.

•Photo shows Anambra REC, Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukaogu.

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