INEC Describes General Elections In Enugu State As Exceptional

The Independent National Electoral Commission has described the general elections in Enugu State as exceptional and one of the best in Nigeria which demonstrated good electoral behaviour.

The commission revealed that the there was peace during the elections in the state.

The electoral body stated that like in some state, the electoral process in Enugu state did not witness any “violence, snatching of ballot boxes or all sorts of electoral malpractices”.

INEC stated this through the National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Barr. Festus Okoye, while presenting the Certificates of Return to Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, his deputy and Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo and the elected members of the State Assembly led by the present Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi.

Okoye while congratulating the elected candidate on behalf of the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu stated that the election, “is a formal statutory and confirmatory process that you have won an election in accordance with the constitution and electoral dictates”.

He also congratulated “in a very big way, the people of Enugu State for taking ownership of the electoral process and driving it in a very peaceful and conducive atmosphere that fused power and sovereignty back to them”.

While speaking on the certificate he said, “The sealed Certificate of Return that will be presented to you is not a trophy that marks the conclusion of your service. Rather it marks the beginning of your service to the people. The validity of the certificate rests with the people of Enugu State. It is within their constitutional mandate to renew, withdraw and or elevate it. The key word is service to the people”.

The INEC State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Emeka Ononamadu, while giving his opening speech rated the election in the state high, “with all the promises of fairness, openness and neutrality intact”, maintained that the exercise “was a tortuous journey that did not come at zero cost, but it is also a journey that the entire nation is poised to learn from Enugu”.

“we set out for 2019 general election with clear vision which resulted in one of the best elections in Nigeria. On behalf of INEC, I wish to thank stakeholders, particularly the political parties, security agencies, traditional rulers, civil society organizations, media, voters and my colleagues in INEC, for their painstaking support in conducting an election which today is being evaluated as one of the best and most peaceful of our time”.

Gov. Ugwuanyi, while receiving his certificate of return appreciated God, thanked INEC and the security agencies for their roles towards the peaceful and successful conduct of the elections in Enugu State.

He also also appreciated the people of the state which he described as “the true heroes of our democracy” for renewing his mandate and reassured them that he “will continue to serve you with the fear of God”.

“We all prayed for peaceful, free, fair, credible and transparent elections, and by the special grace of God, it ended in praise. This means that truly Enugu State is in the hands of God and in all we do in Enugu State we give God due glory, honour and adoration”.