Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has expressed dismay with his Executive Assistants from Enugu North Senatorial District of the state over their nonchalant attitude towards the ongoing voters’ registration exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Consequently, the governor declared the positions of the affected Executive Assistants vacant and directed them to go back to their various electoral wards to revalidate their mandate and obtain fresh endorsement from the people before being reappointed.
The governor expressed regret that some of the former EAs are not on ground and have not lived up to their responsibilities in the wards in terms of sensitisation, mobilisation and promotion of government programmes, policies and interests at the grassroots.
Addressing members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Enugu North Senatorial District Committee meeting of the party held at its zonal office in Nsukka, Gov. Ugwuanyi noted that the INEC voters’ registration is the key to the fortunes of the party and state ahead of 2019 general elections.
He added that the exercise offers the people of the state and the zone in particular another opportunity to justify themselves as those who have always been known for their highest number of voters during elections.
The governor also emphasised the need to involve those who are committed to the party and its government in political appointments and advised the stakeholders to allow the people at the grassroots choose those who will be appointed as Executive Assistants to manage the activities of his administration at the ward level.
The governor also told the councillors, supervisors and other political office holders at the ward and local government levels to reside in their areas and participate actively in the affairs of the party and the government, adding that the council chairmen will be held responsible if they do not comply with the directives.
“The on-going voters’ registration is the key. It is very important to us. It is beyond election. It is about all of us. Unfortunately, the EAs appointed to drive this campaign for the government at the grassroots, have not done much in terms of sensitisation and mobilisation. I hereby declare their positions vacant in Enugu North Senatorial District. They should go back and get the endorsement of the people at their various wards for re-appointment”, the governor declared.
In his opening remark, the Enugu North Vice-Chairman of the party, Rt. Hon. Michael Onyeze commended the governor for his presence at the meeting and his good works in the state, describing him as “a good party man”.
Hon. Onyeze said the party has commenced the process of repositioning ahead of 2019 to achieve a landslide victory at the polls “as usual”. He disclosed that a committee will soon be set up to develop strategies on how the party will achieve its goals in the forthcoming elections.
The vice chairman also called on the party members to show more interest in the voters’ registration exercise, urging them to go to their various wards and mobilise those who have not obtained their cards to do so in the overall interest of the party and its government.
He also called for synergy between party members and various support groups of the governor, saying: “We in PDP can’t do it alone, without their support”.
Other party leaders at the event include the Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial District, Sen. Chukwuka Utazi; Senator Fidelis Okoro; Board of Trustees member, Amb. Mrs. Justina Eze; Rt. Hon. Pat Asadu; Rt. Hon. Stella Ngwu; Hon. Dennis Agbo; members of the State House of Assembly and council chairmen from the zone, among others.
