Enugu State governor, Dr Peter Mbah, has inaugurated the newly constituted chairman and members of the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC), sequel to the provisions of Section 4(1) of the ENSIEC Law, charging them on free, fair and credible polls.
The new ENSIEC leadership, which had earlier been confirmed by the Enugu State House of Assembly, has Prof Christian Ngwu, as chairman, Barr Ifesinachi Umeobika, secretary while Solomon Udeh, Chinenyenwa Ogbu, George Ani, Arthur Ede, Paully Eze and Emeka Ukwuaba are members.
Performing the inauguration at the Government House Enugu, Mbah said the electoral body’s new board was highly qualified in capacity and character as testified to by the dispatch with which their nominations were ratified by the Enugu State House of Assembly.
He said: “The presidential system of government we practice creates several tiers of government and your appointment and subsequent ratification has now put you in a position where you have to administer the conduct of election into the local government councils, the third and a critical tier of government.
“You are, therefore, charged with the responsibility to ensure that the rule and the procedures governing election into the local government councils are conducted in a free, fair and credible manner.
“As unbiased umpires, the people of Enugu State would be looking up to you to ensure that the rules are applied strictly without fear or favour. Therefore, we will be counting on you to discharge yourselves creditably in your new roles. Some of you are already in the system as you were reappointed and we expect you to bring your experience to bear.”
Speaking on behalf of the new ENSIEC leadership, the chairman, Prof Christian Ngwu, expressed gratitude to the governor for finding them worthy to serve the people of Enugu State in that capacity, assuring that they would reinvigorate ENSIEC and provide a level playing ground for all political parties.
