By Our Reporter, Abia.
Ikenna Chigozie Emereuwa, the 2023 House of Assembly Candidate of Action Alliance (AA) for the Umuahia East Constituency of Abia state, has harped on the important need for all eligible citizens of Nigeria and lovers of democracy to participate in the ongoing electoral process, especially the registration and Revalidation exercise for Permanent Voters Cards being conducted by the Indepe
ndent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to enable them entrench purposeful leaderships at all levels of Abia and the country.
Speaking on the backdrops of the recent order of an Abuja High Court which restrained INEC on its June 30th deadline on registration of voters’ card, in an interview with GLOBAL TIMES NEWSPAPER, on Tuesday in Umuahia, Mr Emereuwa urged the nation electoral umpire to ensure adequate availability of resources and logistics to foster smooth and hitch free execrise
Recall that Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon had granted an order of interim injunction following the hearing of an argument on motion exparte by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
SERAP and 185 concerned Nigerians had early this month filed the lawsuit against INEC, asking the court to “declare unconstitutional, illegal, and incompatible with international standards the failure of the electoral body to extend the deadline for voter registration to allow eligible Nigerians to exercise their rights”.
SERAP had in the suit, asked the high court for “an order restraining INEC, its agents, privies, assigns, or any other person(s) claiming through it from discontinuing the continuous voters’ registration exercise from the 30th June 2022 or any other date pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice”.
Continuing, the AA State Assembly standard-bearer, reminded the citizenry that it’s only the permanent voters Cards they can used to enthrone good governance which they have yearning for, at the levels of Abia state and the Nigeria at large, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure additional provision of machines and adhoc staff to ensure no eligible citizens of Nigeria is denied his or her rights to vote and to be voted for, in the forthcoming elections in 2023.
“Let me also use the medium to call on the people of Umuahia east state constituency, who are above 18 years to visit any INEC designated units or points to register and revalidate for Permanent Voters’ Cards, because what is happening in Nigeria and our state is nothing to write home about. You can see, the collapsed economy, insecurity, infrastructural decadence, and all lovers of true democracy must close ranks and join hands together to entrench rightful leaderships with visions, capacities and, the requisite competence to attract meaningful economic and Infrastructural amenities, through sound, producive and peoples- oriented bills, laws, and as well, in the discharge of oversight functions, to enhance development in Umuahia east state Constituency if given the opportunity in 2023”.
Asked to speak on the rationale behind his recent defection from Young Progressive Party (YPP), to the Action Alliance to pursue his 2023 political bid, Mr Ikenna Emereuwa, frowned at the alleged irregularities that heralded before and during the party’s concluded primaries held across the state constituencies of Abia, decrying also the illegitimate and undemocratic manners wherein, political parties nowadays goes for the highest bidders, and abandoned true democratic principles, competences and merits, to deepen present democracy at all levels of the country, for their personal selfish interests
The Umuahia East Abia Assembly candidate, explained that he is at home, and proud to be a card-carrying member of the party and also reiterated his assurance to implement in fullest, the manifestos of the Action Alliance, that hinged on development-oriented of Nigeria, Abia and the state constituency.
Emereuwa further solicited the total support of the electorates to emerge the next member and lawmaker to represent the umuahia east in the state House of Assembly come 2023, and also reiterated his promise to provide effective and efficient representatiation for the growths, development and general good of the people in the Abia area when elected in the legislative chamber.
“I will interface with relevant arms of government to attract, facilitiate and build critical infrastructural projects to improve livelihoods in the constituency,”he further added.
The party chieftain partly stated, “I believe that a man’s relationship with the society, the quality of his efforts and the degree of his striving are important elements of the arriving force that helps him discover his destination.
“I resigned from Young Progressives Party YPP and withdrew my aspiration to contest under the party because of some irregularities observed in the party.
“May I use this opportunity to thank God almighty, friends, supporters, State leadership of Action Alliance (AA), National Working Committee (NWC), Local Government and Ward Executive Committees of our great, for electing me as the Candidate to vie for Abia State House of Assembly representing Umuahia East Constituency come 2023.
“With great ecstasy, i urge my good people to support me to achieve this goal as i promised to give you all an effective and efficient representation”.
