Asaba -The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Delta, Mr Aniedi-Abasi Ikoiwok, on Thursday said the commission adhered to electoral process in the conduct of the recent general elections in the state.
Ikoiwok made stated this in Asaba in his address at the 2015 Post General Elections workshop organized by Delta Conflict Management Alliance, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).
He said that every aspect of the electoral process was diligently prosecuted in the conduct of the polls in the state.
“During the elections, we were guided by two key considerations, firstly, the need to conduct our operations within the ambit of laid down laws.
“Secondly, was our determination to actualize the avowed mission of the commission which is to provide credible and efficient electoral services consistent with the principles of equity, justice and fair-play,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop provided opportunity for stakeholders to review the challenges and processes of the elections.
Ikoiwok, who was represented by Mr Tom Ongele, Administrative Secretary, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Office, Asaba, lauded the organizers of the workshop for providing the platform ‘’for a review and a projection into the future’’.
“I must commend the organizers of the forum for this gathering which is an avenue for dissecting what transpired in the Nigerian electoral landscape a few months ago.
“It is also an avenue to make an attempt at projecting into the future of democracy in our dear nation,” he stated.
The REC emphasized that elections went beyond what transpired on voting day, but a totality of all the processes, ranging from preparations, voting, collating of results to counting and final declaration of winners.
According to him, it is worth stressing that elections are not just what happened on the actual day of voting, rather it is a process; this process is the culmination or totality of all activities of the elections.
Ikoiwok said that in achieving the objective of elections, the entire process would be tailored toward bringing the choice of persons deemed qualified by the electorate to hold public office.
He insisted that the meticulous approach adopted by INEC in the conduct of elections in the state could be said to be the reason for the “pervasive calm that greeted the declaration of the results.”
The REC maintained that even after the elections had come and gone, the commission’s office was still open to all stakeholders, in fulfilment of its commitment to ensure complete adherence to laid down process.
“As we speak, the electoral process is still being religiously implemented in the state as the commission grants unfettered access to documents and materials used for polls as ordered by Election Petitions Tribunal,” he said.
Also speaking at the workshop, Mr Moses Ogbe, the Chairman of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC), noted that the workshop was key to the review of challenges of elections and their solutions.
He said, “It is my hope that this workshop will come out with concrete suggestion that will guide the activities of election management bodies and other critical stakeholders.
“This will no doubt help to bring about a better understanding of the process before, during and after elections in the future.”
Ogbe said that DSIEC would associate with any measure aimed at ensuring that elections were devoid of violence.
“We want to see violence defeated and completely eradicated from our electoral landscape and it is our collective interest to do so,” he said. (NAN)