IMO IPAC Faults Calls For Removal REC
The Imo State Chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has faulted calls for the removal of the Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Sylvia Agu by some individuals and groups, describing the developments as baseless and unnecessary distractions, giving the wrong timing and the fact that the said REC has no sensitive roles to play in determining the outcome of the polls other than being an observer.
This was as IPAC insisted on the credibility of the forthcoming Imo State governorship election, and the need for all stakeholders to desist from actions capable of derailing the polls or driving up the already tensed situation in the state, but to demonstrate maturity and shared responsibility in the promotion of peace and stability before, during and after the election. The advisory body welcomed DIG Frank Mba into the state with the firm hope that the senior police officer would live up to expectations.
The Imo IPAC Chairman, Ichie Levi Ekeh while addressing newsmen in Owerri, said that the political advisory body in the state deemed it imperative to clarify issues surrounding the disagreements witnessed at the stakeholders meeting organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the political parties participating in the Saturday polls, which he frowned were unnecessary.
His statement: “In preparedness of the forthcoming governorship election in Imo State. The INEC called for an interactive meeting with the stakeholders where the previous challenges shared and the way forward were discussed. On this note, the Imo IPAC has to make this briefing to show the stand of Imo IPAC and to put the record straight.
“On the issue of removal of Imo INEC REC and the national Commissioner, Imo IPAC dissociates itself from the call for the removal of Imo REC considering the timing of the election and also the additional nine RECs added to her office for free, fair and credible election. We warn any person or group of persons or political party to desist from using the name of IPAC as an advisory council to create a political heat and social unrest in Imo State.
“On the issue of security, we welcome DIG Frank MBA for coming to Imo State to assume and to ensure free, fair and credible election. We also urged them to play to the rules, having in mind that all the political parties are equal before the Law and police is our friend, Ichie Ekeh added, while dismissing rumored importation of thugs during the stakeholders meeting, saying rather it were political differences on issues under discussion of which should not have called for misunderstanding.”
Cautioning against peddling of false rumors, the statement continued: “IPAC warns against fake news and rumors to heat up the polity in Imo State capable of causing voter apathy in the forthcoming election. For instance, the news going round the state that some governorship candidates have written results to their favours especially the candidates LP, PDP and APC is highly regrettable because the news are fake and baseless and should be discarded.
“Finally, Imo people as you prepare for the forthcoming election, we have confidence in INEC that they are going to conduct free,fair and credible election. We are optimistic that everything will come out successful. We want to believe that at the end of the day, we are going to get it right.”
On his own, the IPAC Publicity Secretary, Hon John Iwuala, maintained that there was no reason to redeploy the Imo REC as the call did not meet any criteria for such. According to him, the attention and attacks on the REC, were uncalled for because the electoral officer in question does not play decisive rolls in an election from distribution of materials, collation, and announcement of results at different stages, only to observe the process as a ceremonial head.
Iwuala, maintained that IPAC does not constitute into an opposition to the government, but serves as an advisory body, adding that those who have myopic views on how election is being run and results collated and declared would think that the INEC REC is the one who determines the outcome of an election, as he urged stakeholders to deescalate the unnecessary call for the removal of the Imo REC whom he said will play any active role in the governorship election.
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