Uzodimma commends INEC over new polling units; Tasks APC State, LGA, Ward leaders on inclusive politics

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has assured the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of his government’s preparedness to support them in their quest to serve Nigerians better.

The Governor gave the assurance on Wednesday, when he received in audience the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Imo State, Prof. Francis C. Ezeonu and his team who were in Government House, Owerri on a courtesy call.

This is as the Governor, Tuesday, met with the key leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State, Local Government Area and Ward levels and tasked them to work together to grow the Party.

Those in attendance at the Governor’s meeting with the party leaders include the Chairman and members of State Working Committee, LGA Party Chairmen and their Secretaries and Ward Party Chairmen and their Secretaries.

Receiving the INEC team, Governor Uzodimma lauded the wisdom of the Commission in creating new and additional polling units across the country ahead of the 2023 general election and said that the conversion of the former voting points to polling units was “a good decision INEC took.”

He thanked the INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood for what he described as “a wonderful job he is doing in Nigeria” and urged him to “remain resilient and focused.”

The Governor reiterated the willingness of his government to support the INEC ahead of the 2023 general election.

His words:  “For us in Imo State, we will support INEC. Whatever you think we can do to make your job easy for you, don’t hesitate to tell us. The challenges you have in the course of discharging your duties, we will be part of the solution.”

To the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Governor Uzodimma said: “Count us as your partners, Mr. REC. You need to serve the country. Use your position to serve the country, please your conscience and God.”

He also encouraged Prof. Ezeonu to interact more often with the people he has come to serve and visit them as the need arises. “You cannot work alone. Don’t be disturbed by anything. When the time for election comes we will submit ourselves to your own rules. Do your business in Imo and see us as your partners,” the Governor told the REC.

 

Governor Uzodimma acknowledged that insecurity grossly affected the turn out for registration by Imo people who would be eligible to vote in 2023 and used the opportunity of the visit to encourage prospective voters from the State to come out en mass to register “now that the issue of insecurity has been contained.”

The Governor reminded Imo people and those who feel marginalized or poorly treated that the time to deal with the situation starts now as they turn out to register with the INEC. “It is our hope that we will brace up now and come out in large numbers to register now that the situation of insecurity has improved.”

Earlier in his opening remarks, Prof. Ezeonu told the Governor that Imo State is trailing behind other States from the South East as regards the number of new registrants going by their data of January 10, 2022.

Though the REC also blamed the low turnout for registration on insecurity, he said there is still opportunity for those who want to register to do so, either through the INEC registration centres in the Local Government Areas or the INEC voters’ enrolment devices.

He explained that the conversion of the former voting points to full polling units became necessary to ease congestion and to make more polling units available to the electorate.

Prof. Ezeonu solicited the help of the government in the area of sensitisation and Media Campaign for the INEC activities ahead of the elections slated for February 18, 2023 and March 4, 2023 respectively.

Deputy Governor, Prof. Placid Njoku, the Chief of Staff, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. COC Akaolisa and other key government functionaries joined Governor Uzodimma to receive the INEC team.

Meanwhile, at his meeting with APC leaders in the state, Governor Uzodimma reminded them that their positions in the Party were critical to the ideals and vision  of the APC anchored on service to the people and that they could not afford to disappoint the people who trusted them with their mandate to lead them at the different levels.

He urged them to work hard to win more members for the Party in their different localities and also never to shy away from admitting anyone who approaches them for membership regardless of their former political background.

Governor Uzodimma said they would be doing themselves and the Party a great disservice if they discard inclusive politics.

Speaking at the Sam Mbakwe Executive Chambers Government House Owerri, the Governor challenged the Party leaders to rise against the tide of insecurity as his government has put in place meaaures to deal a final blow to it in Imo State.

To achieve that, Governor Uzodimma announced a cash reward of N1million and N5million respectively to any person or group of persons who would provide information that could lead to the arrest of a bandit or identification of a camp of bandits in the State.

The Governor reminded the APC faithful that he invited them to wish them a happy new year, a year he said “they will witness a lot of prosperity.”

He said they are what they are in the Party today because the APC is ruling at both the State and National levels.

The Governor, who is the leader of the Party in the State told them that the bandits must have done their worst, saying they have failed because his government has been able to push the agents of darkness away to allow light to lead.

Governor Uzodimma added that APC believes in the practice of democracy as ‘’Government of the people, by the people and for the people,” noting that the most important officers of the Party are those at the Ward level and other localities in the State.

He emphasised that the State leadership of the APC decided to open up the Party at all levels to accommodate whoever wants to join.

He therefore appealed to them to be united and exhibit such leadership qualities that will allow other people to join their party. He also requested them to “go home and serve the people, through regular meetings at all levels.”

The Governor told them not to be distracted adding that despite the several distractions planned against his government he has remained focused “without derailing.”

He expressed surprise that members of the opposition are blind to his modest achievements in the face of insecurity, banditry, unknown gun-men and social media terrorism, adding that his achievements are “a product of support from both Imo people and the Federal Government which are all APC.”

Governor Uzodimma hinted of his plan to beef up security at the Ward level by establishing Vigilante at all government facilities at the Ward and Local Government Levels.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Chairman of APC in the State, Dr. Macdonald Ebere said that his executive has braced up for the challenge of repositioning the APC and making it the Party to beat.

He assured the Governor and others in attendance that “the APC of yesterday is different from that of today” and that “the entire executive from the Ward to the State Level are all poised to work and achieve for the Party.”

In a vote of thanks, the Vice Chairman of APC in Imo State, Rt. Hon. Mathew Omegara assured of the Party’s readiness in the State to support the Governor in his quest to  realise the 3R mantra “now than before” and prayed God to strengthen Governor Uzodimma and protect all members of APC in Imo State.