2011: All eyes on INEC – Sylva

As the 2011 general elections draw closer, Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State, yesterday, said all eyes would be on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Sylva also said he pitied the chairman of INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega, because he had found himself in a precarious situation as the nation approaches 2011 general elections.

The Governor stated this in Yenagoa, during a one day stakeholders meeting on voters registration organised by INEC in conjunction with the National Orientation Agency, NOA.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Gideon Ekeuwei, Sylva said the spate of frauds in the 2007 election was a source of concern to the late President Yar’ Adua, as he testified to the menace before his death.

Governor Sylva described the 2011 election in the country as critical, noting that the world is beaming at the outcome of 2011 election result in Nigeria.

He insisted that Nigeria had a bad election history, adding that the June 12 election was celebrated as a free and fair poll across the country.

“The world and beyond are looking at us. Few days ago, Cote d’ Ivoire had their election likewise Ghana and South Africa. Nigeria is seen as the giant of Africa and whatever we do, is seen as the behaviour, attitude and character of Africa,” he added.

The governor said the people were eager to know what would happen in 2011, adding that there was need for INEC to ensure that 2011 is devoid of any form of malpractices, even though human beings are susceptible to error.

“If as human beings, we re-orientate ourselves from the family level and put before us development as our major priority and avail ourselves the opportunity put before us by INEC as regards the conduct of free and fair election, 2011 will witness a remarkable success, he said.

“The INEC chairman has found himself in a precarious situation but he needs our support in conducting free and fair election. I always pray for him,” he said.

On the voters registration exercise, he called on the people that have attained voting age to register when the time comes, stating that it is only avenue to elect the leaders of their choice.

Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Bayelsa State, Engr. Edwin Nwatarali had stated that the people of the state have serious role to play in this democratic process, especially with the President coming from here and promising the entire country and even the international community that his administration would conduct free and fair election.

He, therefore, called on the various interests groups to conduct themselves appropriately to achieve the noble course of Mr. President.

The REC disclosed that 5,145 personnel have been recruited, adding that majority of them are members of the NYSC and students of tertiary institutions.

The commission he noted would deploy Direct Data Capture machines to all the 1,805 polling units in the state, while the display of registers of voters for claims and objections would follow registration exercise that would commence on the January 15, 2011.