…kicks against election violence, demands for credible polls
Dan Opara
Group of women numbering over 200 persons under the platform of “Owerri Zone Women of PDP Extraction”,was on Tuesday,March 5th 2019,dressed on black cloths chatting solidarity songs with various placards inscriptions requesting that the electoral umpires in Imo State should as a matter of fairness and transparency conduct a peaceful free,fair and credible election exercise on Saturday,March 9th 2019,slated by INEC for the 2019 Governorship/State Assembly elections in Nigeria and in Imo State in particular.
The women’s placards captions writes:” we need a peaceful elections in Imo,INEC beware,do not be used to truncate democracy,we say no to Militarization,and we need a free and fair elections.
Other placards from the women includes:”we are for peaceful demonstration and peaceful protest,Owerri zone Women say no to election violence,we say no to rigging,we need peaceful elections our state and we are here for peace not for war”.
Shortly after their protest complaint to the Army Barracks Obinze Owerri,they navigated to the INEC office along Owerri/Portharcout Road,then moved to the Department of State Security,DSS,office off Owerri/Onitsha Road and terminated their march at the Imo State Police Command Headquarters Owerri,were they submitted their protest letters.
Speaking on behalf of the peaceful protesters,the Imo PDP State Women Leader,Hon.Chief Mrs.Maria Mbakwe,expressed worry over what she described as hieght electoral injustice,rigging and unlawful activities observed in the last Presidential polls in the state and stated that the aim of their protest is to ensure that the electoral umpires mostly the INEC adhere to the rules and regulations guilding the electoral acts.
Which according to her,called on them to
ensure that the exercise is conducted free,fair and transparently.
The Imo PDP Woman Leader,Mrs.Mbakwe,said the protesters are from PDP but are in protest on behalf of all the women in all the political parties in Imo State demanding that the Saturday,March 9th 2019 polls regain the interest of credibility from the electoral commission.
“We are demanding for credible polls,do not accept any result outside the results collated and announced at various polling booth and voting points.
Any result from money bags must never be accepted”,she submitted.
Mrs.Mbakwe,therefore expressed optimism that Imo women are ready,passionate and willing to vote for the most popular and credible party candidates in the state. She also expressed hopefullness that the Imo PDP guber candidate,Hon.Emeka Ihedioha,would be victoriously elected as Governor,come March 9th 2019.
The Woman Leader,however charged all the electoral umpires mostly INEC to leave up to expectations and ensure they only pronounce persons who won their elections as winners.
“We are Imo PDP Women from Owerri Zone Extraction of the state,we are protesting against election violence,demanding for a peaceful election exercise in Nigeria,in Imo State,come March 9th 2019 polls”,Mbakwe noted.
Adding her voices,the Owerri zone PDP Woman Leader,Mrs.Perpetual Amadi, and Chief Mrs.Ann Njoku,respectively said that “Imo Women of PDP extraction took protest to INEC,Army Barracks Obinze,DSS office,demands for peaceful election exercise in Imo State,come Sat.9th March,2019.”
Responding,the Imo INEC PRO,Mrs.Emmanuella Opara,said ” our commission are happy with the manner in which you (women) conducted your selves on a peaceful protest. All your requests would be granted and registered. Now that you have come to tell INEC to remain none-partisan,we should adhere to your appeal. We must take all the elections results as recorded from the booths”.
The PRO moreso advised the women to educate their children at home to desist from from election thuggery.
“Tell your children ( youths) to shun all form of violence because their are the future of the nation and the state in particular. Come out and cast your votes,it must surely be counted,protected and transparently announced. Make use of your handsets to take photos of any ugly incident and let us get your reports accordingly. We are poised to offer the most transparent and most credible election exercise in Imo. Never you associate or partner with killers now,before and after the elections”,INEC PRO insisted.
