ANSIEC uncovers polling booths in Anambra shrines, forests

The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC, has expressed worry over desperate acts of some politicians in the state to scuttle the October 5, 2013 local government polls in the state.

The alarm followed its discovery of polling booths in some shrines and forests in the state.

Places where the polling booths were discovered include Nteje in Oyi local Government Area, Marine area of Onitsha North and Ogbaru local government area.

The acting chairman of the commission, Chief Sylvester Okonkwo, who disclosed this at the kickoff of the sensitization programme for the October 5, 2013 local government in the state at the headquarters of Awka South Local Government Area, described the development as worrisome.

He said the polling booths would be relocated before the election on October 5th, 2013.

According to him, “There is no way women and Christians can vote in shines or evil forests. Such a thing cannot happen in Igbo land.

The ANSIEC boss called on traditional rulers to assist ANSIEC agents to look for good sites where the elections would take place in their domains.

He equally announced that political campaigns had been lifted, adding that candidates and political parties for the election could start campaign openly.

He gave respite to those who lost their voting cards during last year’s flood disaster in areas like Ayamelum, Ogbaru, Anambra East, Anambra West and other areas, saying they would vote during the election, provided their names appeared in the INEC register.

In a remark, the state coordinator of Movement for the Conduct of Local Government Elections, Comrade Osita Obi lauded ANSIEC for listening to the yearnings of the people by fixing a date for the election.

Obi called on the aspirants to go to their wards and communities to continue the sensitization exercise, noting that local government election is going to be real this time.