ANAMBRA ELECTION: INEC PARLEYS WITH RELIGIOUS LEADERS,ASKS THEM TO EDUCATE CONGREGATION ON THE NEED TO VOTE.{PHOTOS}.

By Blessing Uchendu (ABS Reporter)

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has appealed to religious leaders to encourage their congregation to participate actively in the November sixth governorship election in Anambra State.

The Commission made the appeal at a-one-day voter education and interaction with heads of religious bodies in Anambra State.

Declaring the event open, the Anambra State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, represented by the Head, Department of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr Samuel Nimem,  said that the meeting was imperative considering the place of the church in the larger society and the need to brief the religious leaders on INEC's preparations so far and seek their support towards educating their congregation to ensure that they are abreast with basics of electoral process.

Dr Orji assured that INEC has either replaced or upgraded necessary equipment and facilities and also sustained tempo of voter education to have a smooth poll and to also encourage active participation in the election.

Making a presentation on preparations for the Anambra governorship election, the Head, Department Electoral Operations, INEC, Mr Innocent Ekwulor, said that the Commission is fully ready to achieve free, fair and transparent election, adding that voting would take place in five-thousand-seven-hundred and twenty polling units across the state.

Speaking further, the Head, Department of Information Communication Technology and Voter Registry, Engineer Chukwuemeka Nnaji, said that INEC has introduced various tech-enabled models to aid the election, adding that a total of two-million, five-hundred-and-twenty-five-thousand-four-hundred-and-seventy-one registered voters are expected to participate in the November sixth gubernatorial election in Anambra State.

For the Head of Unit, Civil Society Organization and Person's Living with Disability, Mrs Chinyere Okoye, voter education is key to helping the electorate know their rights and responsibilities. 

Members of the clergy who participated in the session, including Reverend Ekene Nnadi and Sister Chikodili Nwokeke said that the sensitization will go a long way in educating the citizenry and suggested that INEC equally work on the observations raised at the program to ensure that they become actionable.

More photos below.