Concerns have been raised over the appointments of returning Officers, assistant returning officers and election managers.
Concerns have also been raised over the method used to update the Electoral Roll in the Nation’s Capital.
The Electoral Commissioner, Patilias Gamato, was presented two letters yesterday regarding these matters and has been given one week to respond favourably, before further action is taken.
Concerned citizens, Bonny Igime, Michael Kandiu, and activist, Noel Anjo, today signed letters outlining election related concerns.
They claim that the Returning Officers of the 3 NCD Open Electorates and their assistants are all former NCDC officers, and have had direct affiliation with the current NCD Government and the Governor. They want the current NCD election management team to be nullified and are calling for fresh recruitment.
Bonny Igime said, “We consider this to be unethical. Electoral Commission must nullify NCD election management team and do fresh recruitment.”
Regarding the roll update method employed, the Mr. Kandiu and Mr. Anjo said the old door-to-door exercise was more effective than the new one, where enrollment agents are stationed at designated locations and citizens are expected to go and check their names.
The letters were delivered to the Electoral Commission office and were given directly to Electoral Commissioner, Patilias Gamato, as he arrived at work.
Earlier, at the start of the NCD Voter Registration exercise, NCD Election Manager, Terence Hetinu, had explained that the old door-to-door method would no longer be used because of past failed experiences.
The concerned men have called for fresh recruitment of the NCD election management team, as well as the electoral roll update period to be extended for another month. They are giving the Electoral Commission one week to respond before they take further action.
