The Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday commenced the domestication of strategic programme of action for 2012-2016 in Cross River State with a call on stakeholders to work as a team to achieve success.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Cross River State, Mr. Mike Igini, made the call while unveiling the plan at the INEC’s state headquarters in Calabar, the state capital.
He said the strategic action was a practical, action-oriented guide which had been developed to provide direction for INEC and the actions to be taken in order to achieve its mandate.
The plan, which was first unveiled by INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, in Abuja on June 26, 2013, is being domesticated in the states and local government areas in the country and it is expected to make the commission to be more accountable.
In Calabar, the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu (V) ; the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. James Epoke; and the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kola Sodipo, among other stakeholders, said the action plan, if well implemented, would ensure credibility in the electoral process.
According to Igini, the strategic plan is “a design, a blue print and a master plan” to help the commission develop a pragmatic roadmap for its work over the next five years.
The strategic plan says “the focus of the commission would be to provide electoral operations, systems and infrastructure to support the delivery of free, fair and credible elections. To improve voter education, training and research; to register political parties and monitor their operations; to interact nationally and internationally with relevant stakeholders and to reorganise and reposition INEC for sustained conduct of free, fair and credible elections.”
To achieve this, Ogini said there would be the need for the commission to display a high level of “independence, impartiality, autonomy, equity, excellence, dedication and team work.”
The Obong of Calabar said there was the need for the traditional institutions to be given roles to play as stakeholders due to their closeness to the grassroots.
He however commended Igini for his uprightness in the discharge of his duties, saying Cross River had witnessed credibility in the electoral system since the REC assumed duties in 2010.
The CP stressed the need to work as a team under the strategic action plan to achieve positive goals.
Culled: Punchng
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