The Akwa Ibom State Government has assured the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC of necessary logistic support and cooperation to enable it succeed in the discharge of its assignment in the state.
The State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel gave the assurance when the new Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, Barrister Mike Igini paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Uyo.
Mr Emmanuel described the expectations by the people from INEC as very high and spoke on the need to ensure improvement upon previous elections.
He called on INEC to increase the number of machines and voters registration centers in local government areas across the state and explained the difficulties faced by the locals especially those in the riverine areas in their quest to discharge their civic responsibilities.
The Governor said that carrying out Voter Registration exercise at only one point in each of the 31 local government areas was already a setback and offered to provide logistics if INEC officials were willing to get across to the people in the riverine areas.
He also made a case for the electoral umpires to allow things run on a free and fair basis saying that no matter what human beings do, God gives power to whoever he wants.
Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, Barr Mike Igini said it was his first time in Government House since assumption of office last month.
The Commissioner said that the Commission, in preparation for the 2019 elections, had commenced series of activities in the state particularly the Continuous Voter Registration, CVR exercise which is ongoing. He encouraged eligible voters to take part in the exercise.
He enjoined those who just turned 18 and above and those who have not been able to register before or lost their voter’s card to take part in the exercise which is ongoing.
The Electoral Commissioner appealed to the State Government to use all available instruments of engagement to help call the people to avail themselves of the opportunity.
He spoke of plans to take the voter registration to the polling units in due course and announced that the National Population Commission, NPC had picked Akwa Ibom as one of the 10 states for commencement of work in respect of the anticipated population census.
Barr Mike Igini said the two Federal Agencies, INEC and NPC are starting their census related assignments next week at Ikot Ekpene, having been so selected as venue for the exercise and appealed for maximum cooperation from the people there.
The Commissioner said that no force within or outside can determine for Akwa Ibom people who becomes what apart from them and assured all interested parties of level playing field during elections.
The Chief Electoral Officer for Akwa Ibom who spoke on a wide range of issues promised to leave the state better than he met it.
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