By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has tasked media practitioners and members of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on increased voters’ turnout during elections.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Enugu State, Dr Emeka Ononamadu, gave the task on Wednesday while speaking at a consultative meeting with media practitioners and CSOs on the suspended Isi-Uzo State Constituency bye-Election.

The Isi-Uzo State Constituency bye-Election in Enugu State slated to hold on Oct. 31 2020, was suspended due to the EndSARS violence which erupted in the country.

Ononamadu lamented the low turnout of voters in the last general election in the state, adding: “We do not also want to experience another low turnout in Isi-Uzo State Constituency bye-election.”

He noted that INEC cannot facilitate the conduct of Isi-Uzo State Constituency bye-election in the state without the presence of police personnel.

“We are here to meet with stakeholders to deliberate on a suitable date for the Isi-Uzo bye-election which was suspended due to EndSARS violence.

“This problem was not only in Enugu State but the election was also suspended in all 11 states across the country where bye-elections were supposed to be held last month.

“In INEC, we see elections as a national issue; so we cannot fix any date on our own alone because of the present situation in the country as a result of EndSARS protest.

“It is unfortunate that people are still in fear and the police personnel are yet to come back fully to duty due to the last month incident and we cannot conduct this election without the presence police personnel,” he said.

Meanwhile, stakeholders at the meeting expressed mixed reaction over the conduct of the election.

While some said that the conduct of the election would not be visible with the situation in the country now; others suggested that the people should be given more time to overcome their fears and trauma.

Mrs. Onyeka Udegbunam, Executive Director of Hope Givers Initiative, said that the election might not be visible this year as police personnel who were targeted during the EndSARS protest are yet to come back to duty

“I want to suggest that the election should be shifted to next year because those that lost their loved ones are still in trauma so we should give them time to recover from their loss,” Udegbunam said.

Also, Mr. Sam Obiefuna, Executive Director of Disability Policy and Empowerment Consult, cautioned against insinuating fear in the electorate.

“We want to believe that INEC has finished all the preparation for the conduct of the election before the EndSARS protest so they should liaise with the Inspector-General of Police to decide the suitable date for the election.

“But, I want to suggest that if they could not conduct the election in November, it should be postponed till January because December cannot be visible because it's a festive month and we might not get people’s attention,” Obiefuna said.

It would be recalled that Isi-Uzo State Constituency seat in Enugu State House of Assembly was declared vacant by INEC following the death of the member representing the area, Hon Chijioke Ugwueze.