Mark begs Nigerians to return to polls

President of the Senate, David Mark, has pleaded with Nigerians to return to the polling units on Saturday, to cast their votes. But Senator Chris Anyanwu, who is contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, in Imo East Senatorial District, expressed disappointment at the shoddy preparation of the Independent National Electoral Commission for the elections, noting that there was leakage of election materials. Mark in a statement on Sunday, said the set-back occasioned by the postponement of the elections was a temporary one. He said Nigerians should persevere and demonstrate patriotism during the period of the elections. He also expressed optimism that INEC would rise up to the occasion, despite the shortcomings exhibited so far, adding that the commission would conduct free, fair and credible elections that would meet international standard and satisfy all stakeholders. Mark said, “This is a temporary set-back. It will test our resilience and perseverance as a people determined to chart the right course for our generation and those yet unborn. I believe that if we get it right this time, we would have laid a solid foundation that would be built upon by successive administrations and people.” He, however, urged INEC not to leave anything to chance again in the onerous task of conducting elections in a challenging environment. Mark said, “This task should not be left in the hands of INEC alone. “All of us, Nigerians and even friends of Nigeria must cooperate and contribute positively to the making of a new dawn in our electoral process. We must all imbibe the culture of being our brothers’ keeper because we all have a stake in this country.” While issuing a note of caution to politicians, Mark said, “We must guide our utterances and actions so that we would not unwittingly cause anger or provocation. Because the outcome, negatively or positively would affect all of us, we cannot afford to fail this time around.” Anyanwu, on her part, raised doubts over INEC’s ability to conduct credible elections, alleging that INEC’s storehouse of election materials had been penetrated by politicians. She told our correspondent in a telephone interview that allegations were rife in Imo State of some powerful persons in possession of ballot papers and were already prepared to rig the National Assembly elections before they were cancelled on Saturday. By Oluwole Josiah, Abuja Courtesy Of: Punch