ELECTORAL REFORMS: Electoral bodies should be non-partisan - Don

Undue interference and imposition of candidates by those in authority during elections have been described as having negative impact on the electoral process and hindering the growth of democracy in the country.  

This was the position of the Provost of the Rivers State College of Health Science and Technology (RIVCOHSTECH), Dr Nnanna Vincent Onyekwere, while speaking with newsmen shortly after elections were held into positions in the executive of the Students Union Government (SUG) of the institution in Port Harcourt.  

Dr Onyekwere decried the imposition of candidates by those in authority, saying such actions create unnecessary problems in the polity and urged election officials to be forthright and resist the temptation to favour one candidate above others.

Expressing optimism that elections can be free and fair where there is no interference by the electoral bodies, he noted that for elections to be conducted in an atmosphere of peace the umpires have to be non-partisan.

“The electorates are the most important people in an election…they should be carried along in the process,” the academic don stated and called on the management of tertiary institutions to “stand on the truth because that is what will take away all the tension”.

At the end of the elections, Godswell Binyen, a 200 level student of Environmental Health Technology emerged President polling 399 votes ahead of Goodnews Opurum, 200 level, Health Information Management, and Chukwundah Mac-Charlie, 200 level, Community Health, who polled 326 and 281 votes respectively in the voting process adjudged by many students as free, fair and transparent.

Also elected into the executive are Uwitetu Faith Ozuzu (Vice President), Kingsley Amadi (General Secretary), Chujor Juliet Owate (Assistant General Secretary), Akani Ikechukwu (Financial Secretary), Boma Strongface John (Treasurer), Richard Amadi (Director of Welfare), Minini Romeo (Public Relations Officer), Chivueze Echem (Director of Transport), Emughibula Bennett (Director of Sports), Owoh Dickson Owoh (Director of Socials) and Mbuchi Nwuche (Provost).