Anxiety over alleged plans to rig poll

Source: The Nation Newspaper Published:Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Concerns are mounting over alleged intent of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) to manipulate the February 6, 2010 Anambra State governorship polls.

The Archbishop emeritus of Onitsha Ecclestiacal province comprising of Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi states, formerly including Imo, Abia, Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom States, Most Rev. Albert Obiefuna was the first to raise the concern.

In an open letter to INEC which was made available to journalists in Onitsha, Anambra State, the prelate disclosed that even at the point of death occasioned by the after effect of a terminal disease called cancer, he still cares for what happens to his people.

Obiefuna said, "as I write this short warning, I am battling with the after affect of a deadly disease called cancer. I am not sure I shall live to see that day of election in Anambra State . Nevertheless my philosophy of life is not après moi le deluge that is provided I am no longer there let the deluge come. Not at all! I care till my last breath for my people".

He continued. "On that account let the INEC so conduct the election that it will be transparently evident who won the election. We very easily brush aside authentic prophetic utterances only to lament afterwards when the disastrous consequences show themselves. Only the fools say there is no God. Let INEC be warned".

The latest intrigue to the February 6 2010 election in Anambra State is the discovery of fictitious names and pictures of prominent Nigerians who are not from the State in the voters registers, for instance, "the late legal icon and human rights colossus, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, (SAN), had his picture pasted. His voter’s name was changed to Albert O. Asoanya (an Igbo-Nigerian name). Other initials allocated to him are: age 49; voters’ register number: 36; code number: 90800201145; occupation: civil/public servant".

"The picture of Chief Jim Nwobodo, a former governor of old Anambra State, who is from Enugu State, was also found in the said Ezinifite Ward 1. His name was changed to Donatus N. Egwu. Chief Nwobodo who is over 60 years old was classified as being 51 years old and Chief Gani Fawehinmi, who died at 71 years was classified as being 49 years old. Chief Alex Ekwueme, the former vice president of Nigeria, had his name written but with another person’s picture. He is over 70 years but was given 45 years. He is from Oko in Orumba North Council Area of Anambra State, but his name with a different picture and age, was found in another electoral ward in Nnewi South Council Area of Anambra State." The Coalition pointed out

They continued, "to our further consternation, the pictures of the South Africa’s leading Anti-Apartheid activists such as: Steve Biko, Oliver Thambo, Walter Sisilu, Chris Hani and Nelson Mandela were found in different electoral locations with Igbo-Nigerian names and fictitious ages allocated to them. These discoveries so made were very widespread. We were thrown off balance, when in the course of our further enquiries; we saw the symbols of windows, doors, trees, human skulls and some domestic animals with human names, voters’ register and voting code numbers, different ages, gender classifications and occupations".

According to the group, "the implication of allowing this bogus and roguish voters’ register which has resulted in the sack of about eight staff of the Commission to be used in the said poll will be far-reaching, adding that from the start, it was tailored towards rigging.

"Our position, to the effect that the INEC’s current voters’ register is a hoax was further strengthened by the Commission’s recent sack of its ten top staffers at its Anambra State headquarters, at Awka, made up of Electoral Officers and some staffs of its ICT unit over their ignoble roles in flooding the said register with fake names. Ten more top staffers were interdicted for the same offences. As far as we are concerned, this administrative punishment has not addressed and will never address the illegalities and anomalies complained of. For the said poll to be credible, popular and fair INEC must stick to the roadmap for free and fair governorship poll in Anambra State".

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