The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday reassured the electorate in Ebonyi of its commitment to conduct credible, peaceful and violence free elections in 2019.
Prof. Godswill Obioma, the INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ebonyi, gave the assurance at a media briefing, after a 50-kilometre road walk in Abakaliki by staff of the commission.
Obioma said that the road show was aimed at sensitising and mobilising the public on the importance of registering in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).
He said that the exercise was also to keep members of staff in good health and physical condition as the commission prepares for the elections.
According to him, the exercise is part of the preparatory strategy to ensure that eligible electorate was properly educated, mobilised and sensitised to participate in the 2019 general elections.
“INEC has just announced time table and schedule for the 2019 general elections, and we have put in a number of measures to ensure that eligible electorate are fully and effectively mobilised through proper sensitisation.
“We used the road walk to tell the public especially the eligible voters to come out and register and collect their voter cards.
“The voter card is the only power and right available for the people to elect credible representatives and change bad ones.
“We are using the slogan ‘one man, one vote,’ and we said that if you are able to do this, that you have done the best.
“We are doing the road walk because not quite long ago, our headquarters announced the release of time table for political events for the conduct of the 2019 general elections.
“So, we need to tell the people to do the needful, and what is the needful; go get registered.
“If you don’t have card, go and get registered, if your card is lost or mutilated, go and correct them and that is what we went out to do,’’ Obioma said.
The REC, however, warned that the release of time table for conduct of general elections does not mean that political parties should start political campaigns.
He said: “we want to inform the people that the fact that INEC has announced the calendar does not mean that campaigns have started, so we need to follow the calendar very dutifully.’’ (NAN)