Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission, EBSIEC, has fixed the conduct of the local government election in the state for July 20, 2024.
The Chairman of EBSIEC, Jossy Eze, a lawyer who announced this at a meeting with Chairmen/Secretaries of political parties and Heads of security agencies in the state, advised all political parties to take note of the statutory notice for election.
Eze who promised to conduct free, fair and credible election said that the election will hold in the 171 political wards of the state.
He said that political parties would be given equal play ground to participate in the election.
“Pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, (as amended), the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission Law, 2001, as amended, and the Ebonyi Sate Electoral and Related Matters Law, No. 001 of 2017, as amended, and all other powers enabling her in that behalf, the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission DO HEREBY PUBLISH and GIVE NOTICE of LOCAL Governments COUNCIL ELECTIONS IN EBONYI STATE, 2024.
“Further take notice that the Date of Elections (Day of Polls) is Saturday, 20th day of July, 2024, throughout Ebonyi State; and that NOMINATION PAPERS are to be delivered at the Commission’s Headquarters, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
“Also take notice that it is further published in each of the thirteen (13) Local Government Areas and the One Hundred and Seventy-One (171) Electoral Wards in Ebonyi State that elections are to be held,” she stated.
Responding, on behalf of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Onyema Nwele, said his party would participate in the exercise.
“We will participate fully in the LG election. We are agreeing to what the EBSIEC said, so far that the election will be free, fair and credible. If that is being done, we will do well in LG election,” he stated.
A former Special Assistant to Ebonyi State Governor on inter Party Dialogue, Mrs Jennifer Adibe Nwafor, said the notice for the Local Government Areas election in the state was apt, and urged the commission to ensure that all political parties are giving equal play ground to participate in the election.
Similarly, the State Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Nwaze Ernest, said that political parties may not tolerate the repeat of what happened in the last Local Government election in the state, however, urged the commission to ensure that the election is free, fair and credible as they promised.