…says ‘it’s a clear move to disenfranchise, rig’
Lawmaker representing Oredo Federal Constituency, Edo State, in the House of Representatives, Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, seems a lone ranger in his battle with the Independent National Electoral Commission against the proposed splitting of voting units across the country.
All efforts should be made by all stakeholders to make the electoral process easier and more encouraging for citizens to participate
INEC recently said it was taking a move at splitting any voting unit that has more than 750 voters into two, as a sort of ease of voting in the 2019 general elections.
While this decision seems to have gone down well with other lawmakers, Ogbeide-Ihama is not amused as he is smelling a rat.
According to him, the move is a recipe for chaos, as it will end up in methodical rigging of polls, setting back the gains so far recorded under this democracy.
Ogbeide-Ihama, in a message to his constituents entitled “Urgent need to halt the displacement and disenfranchisement of registered voters as a result of the proposed split of polling units across the country”, observed, “All efforts should be made by all stakeholders to make the electoral process easier and more encouraging for citizens to participate. Anything that will make it more difficult than it already is for a citizen to cast his vote, must be discouraged.”
Continuing, he added, “The INEC, as part of the preparations for the 2019 general elections, has decided to split existing polling units which have more than 750 registered voters into new units to be sited in completely different locations. What this means is that, a voter who is registered to vote in George Idah Primary School, Ihama Road, GRA, Benin, for instance, may have her present unit split if it has over 750 registered voters and her new unit moved to probably Oko Central!
“When my constituents have done their part by going through the ‘stress’ of registering close to their homes to enable them vote on election day, INEC should not make their efforts to be in vain with this proposed plan. Nobody needs to be told that this move, if allowed to go ahead, will end up disenfranchising thousands of voters,” he concluded. That motion against the splitting of voting units, when he recently presented it on the floor of the House of Representatives, was greeted with an immediate action by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, who set up a committee to look into the matter and submit its recommendations in due course.
Doubling as the House Committee Chairman on Culture and Tourism, Hon. Ogbeide-Ihama’s input towards the reorientation of Oredo youths in Edo, it was observed, has been very significant, bearing in mind the human trafficking and illegal migration challenges that had rent the ranks of the youths in the state.
His cultural reorientation efforts in his constituency have helped to shape the psyche of the average Oredo youth, making them see the innumerable potentials embedded in their culture by setting up cultural clubs in schools within his constituency. The larger-picture-effect of these efforts lies in the warm embrace by the Edo youths, many who have undergone series of social rehabilitation and empowerment to rededicate time and energy to their studies or start off some businesses.
Apart from the numerous constituency projects he has continued to commission, Hon. Ogbeide-Ihama’s impact at the National Assembly has been outstanding. His leadership qualities and selfless mien have earned him international recognition as he was recently awarded a honourary doctorate in Public Administration by the Commonwealth University. He said of the award: “I want to express from the most sincere depths of heart my gratitude, and to dedicate this award to all Oredo constituents for their unwavering love and support extended to me since I joined politics and all through my service so far. I am sure I haven’t disappointed you so far, even though there is still so much to be done.”
Also speaking recently while presenting a trophy for the flag-off of the Stephen Keshi Memorial U-17 Football Tournament, the lawmaker urged Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of giving honour to those who had served the nation meritoriously, pledging to continue to support every good cause that aimed at engendering development. “I want to affirm my commitment to all efforts by every group-corporate, government and community, to ensure that his (Keshi’s) name and legacy live on,” adding, “A younger generation is watching how we treat those who have sacrificed and brought honour to our country.”
