PDP Chieftains in A’Ibom appeal to INEC to conduct free, fair elections

Governor Akpabio receiving  Certificate from Guineas World of Records for producing the largest Choral group in the World from the Chief of Staff, Sir Etekamba Umoren, who represented the Governor at the award presentation ceremony in United States of America.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chieftains in Akwa Ibom have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to conduct free, fair and credible elections in the next month general elections in the country.

The People made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Uyo recently.
The PDP Chieftains said that the forthcoming elections should be the most credible elections conducted by INEC ever in the country.

Mr Essien Nduese, a PDP member in the state, said that he expected the forthcoming general elections come Feb. 14 to be conducted in a free and fair atmosphere.

He decried that elections had been poorly conducted in the past years in the country.

“Elections in the past few years have been poorly conducted, in fact in 1999; I will say that we have resemblance of a democratic dispensation.

“But since 2003 the conduct of elections have dwindle to the extent that you cannot really predicts what is going to happen because votes don’t count.
“This time with the issue of the Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs), to electorates we expect that votes should count so that the minds of the people can be expressed properly,’’ he said.

Nduese called on INEC to continue to improve on the conduct of elections, saying that the last two elections conducted in Osun and Eketi was free and fair.

“We expect them to continue with that in the forthcoming general elections come February 2015,” Nduese said.

Mr Sunny Akpanadia, a former Special Adviser to Gov. Akpabio on Public Service Matters and Labour, said that he expected INEC to conduct free, fair and credible elections in the forthcoming elections.
Akpanadia called on INEC to ensure violence free election, saying that people should be allowed to vote without violence in the forthcoming polls.

“All we are asking for is that there should be no violent free during the elections. I expect that INEC will respect the verdict of the people,’’ he said.

He lamented that so many people are yet to receive their PVCs in the state.
He advised those with Temporary Voter’s Cards to go to INEC designation centre close to them to collect theirs.

“Those with TVCs should go to INEC local government areas to collect their PVCs in order to vote for credible candidates during the polls,” he said.
Prof Atim Antia, State Commissioner for Education, urged INEC to conduct free and fair elections, saying that the umpire should give everybody chance to express their mandates during the general elections.

“I expect the electorates to vote their conscience and to also vote for candidates of their choice during the forthcoming elections,’’ she said.
She urges the electorates to vote for leaders that would impact in their lives.
Mr Akpadiaha Ebitu, a PDP chieftain in Eket, called on INEC to take all measure necessary to ensure free, fair and credible elections come Feb.
Ebitu urges INEC to ensure that PVCs are distributed to the eligible registered voters before the general elections.

“It will be sad if people are disfranchise because as far as am concern INEC have absolutely no reason to go publicly with the excuse of people no getting the PVCs.

He decried the delay in the distribution of PVCs to some electorates in the country and expressed hope that INEC would distributes PVCs to those yet to collect before the elections. 

“I urged INEC to give every voters their PVCs, I sincerely hope that before elections, INEC will rectified the problems,’’ he said. (NAN)

Financial autonomy of judiciary will guarantee separation of powers, Lawyer
A Legal Practioner in Eket, Mr Victor Batta, said that financial autonomy of the judiciary would limit the influence of the executive arm on the bench and make the legal system more effective. 

Batta told the newsmen in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, that the 1999 constitution provided for separation of powers among the three arms of government.

He urged federal and state governments to obey the court order granting the judicial arm financial autonomy.

Our Correspondent reports that Justice Adeniyi Ademola had in 2014 ordered the Federal and State governments to grant financial autonomy to the judiciary.

However, following the non-compliance with the order the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) resumed its strike on Jan. 2.

The lawyer said that if the judiciary was independent, it would correct some of the lapses that had hindered the effective performance of judicial officers.
“I support the judiciary to be independent; separation of powers should be real and factual.

“Judiciary should be empowered to do whatever they want to do and not to do what they are not supposed to do,’’ he said. 

Batta appealed to the government to dialogue with JUSUN and resolve the lingering strike by the Judiciary workers across the country.
“The earlier the government sits down to resolve the matter the better for everybody. 

“They should look at it critically. There is no justification for not obeying court judgment. The judgment of the court must be obeyed by the executive,’’ he said. 

He lamented that the strike had affected activities at superior courts and magistrates’ courts across the country.