By Kingsley Agim, CRS-MOI Officer reporting from MOI&O
The Independent National Electoral Commission's Resident Electoral Commissioner, Cross River State, Dr. Emmanuel Alex Hart, has emphasised on the need for greater alliance between his Commission and the Ministry of Information and Orientation in order to enhance voter education and the entire electoral system in the State and beyond.
The new REC made this emphasis during his team's courtesy visit on the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Comrade Asu Okang at the Ministry's Headquarters in Calabar.
Dr. Hart, who described the Ministry of Information and Orientation as dependable ally of his Commission in the area of voter education, adding that in a peculiarly diverse State like Cross River, INEC will wholly rely on the Ministry for multilingual messages disseminated through its robust information and communication architecture for the development of the electoral system in the State, nay Nigeria.
On the forthcoming Northern Senatorial District election, the REC assured Cross Riverians of his Commission's readiness to conduct a free, fair and credible poll, in line with international best practice.
The INEC REC informed that as the State awaits schedule for the vacant Cross River Northern Senatorial seat, he will be leading his team, sooner than later, on a tour of the District to familiarise, as well as further smoothen preparations ahead of the election.
Dr. Hart further assured the people of the State of a listening ear to their yearnings and aspirations, and convey same to superior authority for the overall weal of the State.
In his response, the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Comrade Asu Okang welcomed the REC to Cross River and wished him a memorable time as the electoral umpire of the State.
The Commissioner stated that the quest of the new REC to better the lots of electorates in the State would find a soft landing as he describes Cross Riverians a "civilised and politically conscious people," citing the just-concluded Local Government polls as "a glimmer of hope" for the REC and his team.
Comrade Okang attributed such civility and consciousness to to Governor Ben Ayade, who according to him, has redefined leadership, through expansion and youth inclusiveness in governance.
The Commissioner also beckoned on the Resident Commissioner to intervene in the delineation of political wards in Bakassi, in conformity with Law 7 of the State House of Assembly, as well as also revisit other inordinate ward delineation across the State, pointing anomalies in most cases, considering the topography and geography of the State.
Finding common ground on the conundrums, both parties agreed to come up with a memo highlighting concerns raised for proper followup.
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