Anambra poll: UPP ask INEC to publish specimen ballot papers

The United Progressive Party (UPP) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish and distribute to political parties participating in the November 18 Anambra State governorship election,  the copies of specimen ballot papers.

The party said doing this would help political parties to know their location on the ballot papers and also help the electorate in understanding the number of political parties participating in the election and where to locate them on the ballot papers.

In a statement on Thursday, in Abuja, the UPP national chairman and former presidential candidate, Chief Chekwas Okorie also asked INEC to fully educate voters ahead of the exercise in order to ensure a successful poll. 

"This is urgent and important because the unprecedented number of political parties participating in the forthcoming governorship election may very likely confuse some of the electorate with regard to how to locate the actual position on the Ballot Sheet of the political parties they wish to vote for.

"I believe that all serious minded participating political parties will reproduce the INEC approved specimen ballot sheet to aid their campaign in the remaining days leading to November 18.

"It will be very helpful and encourage unprecedented voter turnout in Anambra governorship election if INEC can step out this time to promote the method it promised Nigerians it will adopt in the Anambra governorship election.

"The use of Upgraded Card Readers, the availability of functional Card Readers for all the 6,200 Polling Units in Anambra State, as well as the provision of Standby Card Readers in the event of any breakdown during the exercise, the open counting and announcement of result at the Polling Unit, the Capture of the result of the votes with the Card Reader and the immediate transmission of same to the Central Server at the State Capital, Awka.

"It will be sad if at the end of the day INEC is on record to have remained aloof to this critical responsibility of the Commission to educate, guide and reassure the voters, " the statement read.