Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has called for adoption of information technology (IT) in the electoral process, to make it less cumbersome for voters and reduce the suffering voters go through in casting their votes.
Ikpeazu made the call Saturday, in his Umuabiakwa country home in Obingwa Local Government Area, while addressing journalists after casting his vote at Obingwa Ward 7, unit 002.
The Abia governor, who casted his vote at exactly 10:50, explained that he was worried on how Independent National Electoral (INEC) could accredit everybody awaiting for accreditation and make them vote before 2.00pm.
“I think we should think more on the direction of Science and Technology. I don’t know why ballot papers cannot be generated locally or even provided and then a voters can call for the ballot papers through a computer and vote rather than standing under the sun. Why shouldn’t we do it digitally?
“I don’t know how the INEC officials here Will accredit everybody here and make them vote before the dateline of 2pm. They need to be a little bit faster. I seem to see too many people being processed by few people.
“The process is efficient, but I just wish our people will be put into less suffering in exercising their franchise. People are standing on the sun and I don’t know how long they’ll stand.
Speaking on the late arrival of materials which led to the delay, Ikpeazu said, “I really sympathize with INEC. Providing logistics for all polling units is not an easy thing.
“We really need to reform because this process is becoming cumbersome. As long as you have human elements around it makes it problematic in terms of fidelity.”
On the outcome of the election, Ikpeazu said, “Everybody who is involved in this contest must first of all get the credentials of a democrat.
“What it means is that whatever the outcome is, they should accept it. Whatever people say through the ballot must be binding. Do or die and desperation around politics is not the way to go.”
GODFREY OFURUM, Aba
