As the rescheduled Presidential /National Assembly elections are fast approaching, Deputy Senate President, Professor Ike Ekweremadu, has raised the alarm over an alleged plan by some persons to rig him out of the election rescheduled to take place on Saturday, February 23.
Special Adviser to Ekweremadu on Media, Uche Anichukwu, in a statement, alleged that INEC result sheets for Enugu West Senatorial Zone during the postponed Presidential and National Assembly elections were missing.
Ekweremadu made the allegation at Town Hall meetings organised in the five local government areas in his senatorial zone. He disclosed that he had brought the matter to the attention of INEC.
The Deputy Senate President called on Nigerians not to be despaired over the postponement, but to rather strengthen their resolve to improve their lives through the ballot boxes.
The town hall meeting was organised to calm the pulse of the people and sensitise them on the need to participate in the rescheduled elections.
Ekweremadu, who spoke at Oji, headquarters of Oji River local government area of the state, said; “Some people intended the Saturday elections for evil, but all things work together for good unto those that love God, those who repose their absolute trust in Him. Don’t forget that some people had earlier boasted how they would overrun us by isolating the state for a staggered election. You must also have read the reports that Enugu State was one of the states that didn’t receive any materials or materials were incomplete.
“They ensured that the result sheets for the entire Enugu West Senatorial District were missing or not delivered. I have lodged the complaint with the INEC authorities, but the result sheets are still missing as I speak.
“So, I urge you and indeed Nigerians to remain vigilant. Don’t despair. Don’t allow your spirits to be broken. We have come very far in this struggle and we are now at a point of no retreat, no surrender”.
Ekweremadu advised the people to “Use the opportunity of the rescheduled dates to make your voices heard louder at the polls. Those who travelled to vote should, please, exercise a little more patience by staying behind or endeavouring to return this weekend to cast their votes. I expect every Nigerian to be where he or she will cast ballots on the rescheduled dates.”
But, the Public Relations Officer of INEC, Enugu State headquarters, Sir Pius Eze, said everything was under control and that the electoral body would be fair to all parties in the rescheduled election.
“There is no cause for alarm. Elections will be conducted in Enugu State and they will be free, fair and credible. Since Sunday, we have commenced the reconfiguration of the card readers and will continue until they are completed.”
