2019 election: What Igbos must do – Reps

The House of Representatives Committee on Electoral and Political Matters says residents of the South-East must shun calls for the boy...

The House of Representatives Committee on Electoral and Political Matters says residents of the South-East must shun calls for the boycott of 2019 general election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dr Chukwuemeka Ujam led a four-man team of the committee on an oversight visit to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Enugu State on Thursday.

Ujam, who represents Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency, spoke in reaction to calls by some pro-Biafra groups for residents to boycott the election.

He urged the people residing in the South-East to participate actively in the election as a measure of enthroning good governance through which they can demand for redress on their perceived marginalisation.

He said the activities of the pro-Biafra groups were major setbacks in the various political efforts to let South-East residents vote massively in previous elections, so that their votes could count.

Ujam called on the people to "exhibit total sense of maturity by ignoring such calls''.

The lawmaker urged the people to relay the message of mass participation in their respective constituencies.

He said such problems which hinged on voters' apathy would be tackled head on this time around across the zone through sensitisation and enlightenment campaigns.

Ujam, said that the visit was to ascertain INEC level of preparedness ahead of the 2019 elections, assuring that the committee would tackle all issues raised by principal staff of the commission in the state.