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Stakeholders in the electoral process have called on the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC to consider decentralisation of the continuous registration exercise to the ward level, instead of the local government headquarters.
They made the call at Agbani, Nkanu-West Local Government area, during the nationwide sensitisation to ensure massive participation in the exercise which commenced across the country.
Reacting to the centralised system designed to be conducted at the local government headquarters, the stakeholders opined that it would involve a great deal of stress, resulting in increased apathy and distorted electoral process.
they argued that if the previous exercises carried out at the people`s doorsteps witnessed a high level of boycott, how much more the current one that is taking them from far distances of their various communities to the council headquarters.
Responding, the Nkanu-West INEC Electoral Officer, Mrs Chika Osuji, acknowledged the genuineness of their complaints but advised them to keep sensitising their people on the essence of participation, while the agitation is being channelled to the appropriate quarters for consideration.
Nkanu-West Council Chairman, Afam Okereke, while encouraging the people to participate fully in the exercise, called on INEC to relax its policies to enable the masses, especially, the youths and women to have easier access to electoral processes.
Meanwhile, the council chairman described the current tempo of women participation in politics in the state as a true manifestation of Governor Ugwuanyi`s adoption of the thirty-five percent affirmative action and charged the women not to shy away from the opportunity.
