Imo Guber Poll: INEC Begs Labour, FG, Uzodinma To Settle Rift Amicably

• Gov Uzodimma Accuses Ajaero Of Backing LP

BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – Ahead of Saturday’s governorship polls in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the Organised Labour to amicably settle its rift with the Federal and Imo State governments through dialogue.

Reacting to the picketing of the airports in Abuja and Lagos by affiliates unions of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Commission said it was in the interest of the country for both parties in the current crisis to positively engage and sort things out.

“We urge the Federal Government and the NLC to resolve their differences amicably through dialogue as quickly as possible”, the electoral umpire said through the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi.

Specifically asked if the Labour Movement’s strike could affect the governorship election in Imo State, Oyekanmi said; “The election will go on as scheduled in Imo State. The NLC strike is not targeted at the governorship election and is not expected to disrupt it.”

On the movement of electoral materials to the three states, Oyekanmi said; “All the non-sensitive and sensitive materials needed for the three governorship elections holding on Saturday, November 11 in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states have already been delivered to the respective states.

“The sensitive materials for the elections are currently being disbursed in the premises of the respective Central Bank branches in the three states at this moment”

According to the INEC Chairman’s Spokesman, the Commission is fully prepared to conduct free and fair polls in all three states and therefore urged all the political parties, candidates and stakeholders to cooperate in making e the exercise credible and a huge success.

INEC Distributes Materials In Imo
At the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Branch in Owerri, the Imo state capital, the Commission on Thursday distributed electoral materials to all the 27 Local Government Areas. These include BVAS machines, ballot papers, and result sheets for the election in all the LGAs across the state.

INEC’s South-East National Commissioner, Kenneth Ukeagu, who briefed journalists while the sensitive materials distribution was ongoing, said the Electoral umpire was ready for the poll in the state, adding that elections would take place in all the LGAs in the state having got assurances from the security agencies.

Assuring that the Commission is on top of its plans for the election, Ukeagu said there is no reason to anticipate hitches in the electoral exercise, especially with the staff adequately trained and professionally charged to discharge their responsibilities during the poll.

He therefore urged the electorate in the state to come out en mass to elect a governor of their choice on Saturday, saying; “We are ready for the election. We are distributing sensitive materials to all the LGAs in the state because elections will take place in all the LGAs in the state.

“We have received assurance from the security agents for the provision of adequate security during and after the election. On our part, we are ready and on top of our plans. The people of the state have to come out on Saturday and elect a governor of their choice.”

Gov Uzodimma Accuses Ajaero Of Backing LP

Amid the disturbing face-off between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Imo State Government, Governor Hope Uzodimma, has denied ordering the recent attack on the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, by alleged political hoodlums and the Police.

Maintaining that he has no reason to have supported such a barbaric attack, the governor however said; “I think Joe Ajaero is pursuing his personal interest. He has said times without number that he is a member of the Labour Party. He has a candidate in the election of Imo State, so he is driving whatever programme will give an advantage to the Labour Party in Imo State.”

Governor Uzodinma, who spoke on Channels Television programme, Politics Today on Thursday night, further said; “If you follow with interest the history of the Labour Congress from 1999 till date, never in the history of any government has the Labour Congress or Labour union, shown the level of hostility they have shown to this administration.

“Assuming anybody has gone to Joe Ajaero to report that there was anything the Imo State government has not done right, I think the first thing he should do is to try to find out from the state government. As I speak to you, we have not met, we have never discussed, he has never presented anything to me. I am not a member of the Labour Union. I have no reason to encourage or support an assault on Joe Ajaero, who is the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress.”