By Valentine Amanze
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the weekend tasked lecturers at various institutions in Nigeria who had been engaged for the 2019 General elections not to compromise their integrity.
Resident Electoral Commissioner in Anambra State, Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, represented by Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, Leo Nkedife, gave the advice during a town hall meeting organized by Academics in Tertiary Institutions in South-East and South-South under the auspices of Academic Frontiers Initiative (AFI) Anambra chapter at Finotel Hotel Awka, Anambra State.
Orji, a Political Scientist, also called on the lecturers to live above board and ensure that 2019 general election remains the best in the annals of Nigeria’s democratic history.
According to him, INEC has perfected plans to give Nigerians a free, fair and credible election this year.
The National Coordinator, Academic Frontiers Initiative (AFI), Dr Chinedu Onyeizugbe, said that the town hall meeting became necessary to mobilize lecturers who act as advisory and intellectual moulders to become partners in ensuring good governance through sensitization and advocating for free, fair and credible election because the ballot is stronger than the bullet, rather than continue to be arm chair critics.
Contributing, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Prof Chinyere Stella Okunna , who represented the Vice Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and former Governor of Anambra state, Mr Peter Obi, reiterated that Obi and Atiku Abubakar were the best Nigerians needed now than ever as she witnessed Obi’s feats in Anambra during his eight years of governance. Okunna insisted that good governance should not be selective and discriminatory. She said that the democratic model Obi presented in Anambra through ANIDS, developed the state simultaneously and she is hopeful the entire country would be developed by Atiku and Obi if given the chance.
In his remarks, the state Coordinator, Academic Frontiers Initiative (AFI), Dr Uche Ngenegbo , Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof Joseph Ahaneku, represented by Prof Godson Okafor, Prof Uche Nwogwugwu and other stakeholders as well as political parties representatives harped on the need for a free, fair and credible election in Nigeria to enthrone leaders who are committed, dedicated and visionary hence they are mobilizing the academics across institutions in the two zones to participate actively in the election without compromise. They called on INEC to be proactive and nip all forms of electoral malpractice in the bud, even as they raised alarm over vote buying jeopardizing the electoral process.
