Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has charged the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) to conduct credible, free and fair Chairmanship and Councillorship elections across the 17 local government councils and 260 electoral wards in the state.

Ugwuanyi spoke Monday when he swore in four new ENSIEC Electoral Commissioners in the state, following their nomination and subsequent confirmation by the State House of Assembly. He stated that the call for credible elections was consistent with his administration’s tradition of transparency, equity and fairness.

The four newly sworn in Electoral Commissioners, who now fill the vacuum hitherto created in the Commission, are Mr. Solomon Ifechukwu Ude, Mrs. Anthonia Chinenyenwa Ogbu, Hon. Mrs. Theresa Egbo and Dr. Mrs. Bernadine Ezugwu.

Gov. Ugwuanyi disclosed that pursuant to section 3, subsection 2, of the ENSIEC Law 2000, “the Commission shall consist of a Chief Electoral Commissioner, who shall be the Chairman and seven (7) other members to be known as Electoral Commissioners whereas section 11, subsection 4, provides that the quorum for meetings of the Commission shall be five (5)”.

The governor further disclosed that the vacuum in the membership of the state electoral body was created following the death of Chief David O. Ngene, resignations of Hon. Samuel Okechukwu Ngene and Hon. Mrs. Jane Chinwendu Eneh who got elected to the State Assembly and Engr. Dr. MaryRose Obiageli Abba, who got appointed as his Special Adviser, respectively.

He added that the depletion in the ENSIEC membership made it impossible for the electoral body to form the needed quorum for a properly constituted meeting, disclosing that with the new members who were sworn in, “as we just witnessed, the Commission is now properly constituted and ready for the forthcoming Local Government elections, amongst its other related functions”.

Gov. Ugwuanyi, who also swore in Barr. Chris Onyema Ezugwu as his Special Adviser, congratulated them for their new appointments wishing them God’s guidance in the discharge of their duties.

Responding on behalf of others, Dr. Mrs. Ezugwu thanked God and expressed gratitude to the governor for finding them worthy to serve the state.

Noting that their responsibilities are “very challenging”, require firm character, dedication and commitment, the new Electoral Commissioner assured the governor that they will put in their best to ensure credible electoral process in the state.

In another development Governor Ugwuanyi yesterday also flagged off the Sub National Immunization Day for children under age zero to five years in the state.

Ugwuanyi was represented by Dr George Ugwu, the Secretary of the Enugu State Primary Healthcare Development Agency.

He said that Enugu had not recorded any case of poliomyelitis since 2008 as a result of the state government’s effort and support in the health system. He added that series of immunization in the state had been successfully carried out in all the 17 local council areas.

The governor noted that the revatilisation of the state primary healthcare had been embedded into the 2020 budget.

He stressed that qualified health workers would soon be employed to rural health facilities for quality healthcare delivery services.

The State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Anthony Ugochukwu, commended the governor for his support towards the immunisation exercise.

Represented by Okechukwu Ossai, the State Hospital Administrator, Ugochukwu stated that the Sub National Immunization was to ensure tha polio and other diseases were totally eradicated in Enugu State.

In her goodwill message, Ada Erinne, the Enugu State Coordinator of the World Health Organiation, (WHO) said it was a step in the right direction by reducing morbidity as polio free state since 2008.

Erinne said that the Organisation had supported the state in areas of raining the health workers for complete coverage of immunisation exercise in the state.

Dr George Ugwu, Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Primary HealthCare Agency, said that state had trained and mobilized over 500 team of health workers for total coverage of the immunisation exercise.

Represented by Dr Ben Nsodukwa, a director in the agency, expressed gratitude to governor Ugwuanyi on different programmes organised bythe agency through his effort.

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