Ihuoma Chiedozie, Enugu
The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Tuesday, said threats by pro-Biafran groups would not stop it from continuing to conduct elections in the South-East.
The commission described the calls for a boycott of the Anambra State governorship election and other polls in the South-East as not only bizarre but counter-productive.
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, had vowed that the governorship poll in Anambra State, scheduled for November 18, and future elections in the South-East, would not hold unless the Federal Government acceded to the group’s demand for a referendum in the region.
But the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Enugu State, Mr. Emeka Ononamadu, who addressed journalists in Enugu, said the electoral body was not bothered by the threat.
While reviewing the Continuous Voter Registration in Enugu, Onanamadu was asked whether the pro-Biafran groups had made efforts to stop people from registering to vote in subsequent elections.
The REC said INEC was not aware of any practical attempts by the secessionists to disrupt the exercise, but noted that even if IPOB made good its threat to stop its members from voting, elections would still take place and winners would be declared.
However, Ononamadu observed that it would not be possible for IPOB to stop people from voting, as, according to him, the political parties were expected to mobilise their members to vote.
Asked if the IPOB threat had affected the continuous voter registration exercise, the REC stated, “I don’t think that we have such a challenge here in Enugu.
“However, I will say that, no matter the agitation, elections are crucial to the government and people must come out to vote; somebody must be declared winner and INEC is there to do that.
“INEC has no business with calls for secession or boycott; our mandate is to conduct elections to fill certain positions.
“At the end of the day, Enugu must have a governor in 2019, whether it is just one person that manages to come out to vote.”
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