The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured registered voters in Anambra State of their safety while urging them to come out en masse during the House of Representatives rerun election holding across 21 polling units in the state on February 3, 2024.
The State Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Dr Elizabeth Agwu, stated this during a press briefing at the Commission’s office in Awka, on Wednesday.
Agwu said security will not be an issue as both human and material resources, including security operatives have been deployed in the areas where the elections will hold.
She assured the voters that their votes will count, just as she said nobody will be intimidated or disenfranchised.
The elections were initially cancelled by the Court of Appeal and a rerun ordered at the affected areas when aggrieved candidates approached the Court seeking for cancellation of the results.
Agwu said, “The rerun election will take place in 16 polling units at Nanka in Orumba North Local Government Area to determine the winner of Orumba North and Orumba South federal constituency.
“Election will also be held in five polling units at Nnewi, Nnewi North Local Government Area to determine the winner of Nnewi North and Nnewi South and Ekwusigo federal constituencies.
“The total number of registered voters at the affected polling units in Nnewi North are 97,438 while that of Orumba North is 161,914 voters.
“Do not be compromised. Vote for the best candidates that can represent you well. Do not say you won’t vote again because anyone is leading before. If you know the candidate you voted for before is still the same person you will vote for, come out to vote for him or her again.
“If you want to vote for another candidate, you are free to do so too. The election is going to be free, fair and credible. You will not be intimidated or molested by anyone. There will be enough security. Do not allow anyone to use you as a thug or escape goat.”
She added that the commission has put measures in place to ensure there will be no room for manipulation, vote-buying or vote selling.
“The 2022 INEC Electoral Act is against this and you will be prosecuted. All the candidates can still mobilise votes but political campaigns end two days to election date,” she explained.