In readiness for the 2015
General Elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Cross River State has organised a meeting to brief stake holders in Calabar.
Addressing stakeholders at the Forum for Permanent Voters Card (PVC) Distribution and Continuous Registration of Voters (CRV), the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Cross River State, Mr. Mike Igini, enjoined all stakeholders to be active participants and play an effective role in educating, sensitising and informing electorates on the need to embrace the exercise.
Igini explained that, for eligibility for the permanent voters’ card, an individual has to be registered, his/her name must have been displayed in the voters register; or the voter has a Temporary Voters Card (TVC), and the voter must be physically present at the collection centre; as collection of permanent voters card cannot be by proxy.
Giving insight towards the registration process, Igini stressed that for a credible election, come 2015, all hands must be on deck to sensitise electorates, to ensure a free and fair elections. For every polling unit, there is going to be Distribution Officer (DO) and a Distribution Registrar (DR), he added.
He enjoined the electorate to come with their Temporary Voter’s Cards to the polling unit where they registered in 2011 and exchange them for the permanent ones as only permanent voters card would be used during the 2015 General Elections.
The Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke represented by the Special Assistant,on Political and Legislative Affairs, Hon. Fred Osim, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission in Cross River State for getting priorities right and introducing card reader which he described as technological improvements on the part of Electoral System in the country.
Speaking earlier, the State Chairman Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Emma-Isong, expressed hopes towards the conduct of the forth coming general elections in 2015 and charged political parties, irrespective of their party interest, to mobilise and sensitise their people by ensuring that they partake in the exercise both in obtaining their PVC and the Continuous Registration of Voters (CRV).
Addressing participants at the stakeholder’s forum, the Commissioner of Police, on-behalf of the security agencies in the State assured Cross Riverians of a peaceful process, since the duty of the Police is to maintain law and order; he described Cross River State as peaceful domain for smooth sail of Electoral Registration.
The commissioner for information Cross River State, Chief Akin Ricketts, described the occasion as a channel to reach Cross Riverians through the various stake holders. He noted that for an effective Registration Process, information was a key factor in making the registration processes a success.
