Abia state Governor, Dr Alex Otti has described elections as the bedrock of democracy.
Declaring open a two-day training program, organized by the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission ABSIEC, for South Eastern states electoral officers held at the Aguiyi Ironsi Conference Centre Umuahia, Governor Otti tasked Electoral Officers on the need to be professional in the discharge of their duties.
The Governor represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu charged electoral officers to make credibility, accountability and transparency their watchword during elections
He commended the ABSIEC chairman, Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa and staff of the commission for organizing the training and assured them of government’s support.
In his remarks, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba re-echoed the commitment of the present administration in the state under Governor Otti towards a transparent electoral process and expressed the hope that the program will unravel the the greatest challenge of electoral process which is restoring the confidence of the electorates.
In his welcome address, the Chairman, Abia State Independent Electoral Commission ABSIEC, Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa, while describing the training as first of its kind since the creation of the commission, noted that Abia today has been catapulted into the limelight of prominence through Governor Otti’s avowed commitment in changing the negative narratives.
Prof. Mkpa explained that the two-day training program with the theme, “Effective Local Government Election Management”, is geared towards reviewing the roadmap to effective local government administration and thanked the Governor for approving to host the program in the state.
The training which featured paper presentations, question and answer sessions, also attracted the presence of Head of Service, Dr Mrs Ngozi Obioma, South Eastern states electoral officers, top government officials among other notable personalities.
