The need for INEC to have “constitutional autonomy’’ was stressed by political stakeholders in Delta.

The state Chairman of the Labour Party, Chief Tony Ezeagu, said for INEC to deliver on its obligation to the nation, it must have a capacity to operate independent of the government.

“The electoral body cannot be said to be independent as long as it depends on the government of the day for funding. The constitution should make provision for INEC to have its own budgetary allocation.

“Also, the appointment of the chairman of the commission should be rested in the hands of the chairmen of the various political parties, not the government.’’

Politicians in Anambra, however, said the time table and guidelines for the elections, if strictly followed, would build better political orientation and advance the political culture of the country.

The electorate in Rivers also kicked against deployment of troops in 2015 general elections as undemocratic.

Mr Ben Orlu told NAN in Port Harcourt that deployment of troops was capable of triggering voters’ apathy.

Orlu, who is a community leader, said that presence of soldiers would undermine the tenets of democracy as well as truncate electoral values.

‘’If INEC is sincere, it should engage the services of police and other para-military, who I believe could maintain peace and order during the election.

Also commenting, the Zamfara Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Ibrahim Birnin-Magaji, said non prosecution of electoral offenders had created more avenues for election crimes and offences.

Birnin-Magaji noted that if INEC and other election tribunals could carry out their duties effectively to arrest and prosecute offenders, the rate of violation of guidelines would reduce.

The commissioner therefore called on INEC, election tribunals, and other enforcement agencies to ensure prosecution and punishment of electoral law offenders.