Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, ABSIEC, has announced November 2, 2024, as the date local government election in the state.
Unveiling the timetable for the poll Saturday in Umuahia, ABSIEC Chairman, Professor George Chima, said all political parties in the state would be given equal play ground.
He said the commission was committed to doing things right and vowed to deliver a credible poll.
“We have been set up to give free, fair and unpolluted election that will be accepted by Abians,” he assured.
He solicited the cooperation of the parties, urging them to comply with the timetable.
Professor Chima told the parties to give the commission a three-day notice before the date of their primaries to enable the electoral umpire supervise the exercise.
On the complaint by some political parties that the commission did not give them enough time to prepare for the election, the ABSIEC boss explained that the commission was in a hurry to comply with the three-month deadline by the Federal Government to states to conduct Council polls.
This, according to him, is to avoid the withholding of their Council allocations by the Federal Government.
He, however, apologised to the parties for the short notice but promised to carry them along.
Professor Chima ruled out the chances of using the Bimodal Voters Accreditation, BIVAS machine of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, but said the commission would use INEC voter’s register.
Responding to an inquiry on security, he said the commission would need the services of both the conventional and non-conventional security apparatus to get the best.
Meanwhile, a perusal of the timetable, indicates party primaries will begin from September 25 and end October 4; while submission of list of candidates by political parties will begin from October 5 and end October 7.
It also showed that screening of candidates by ABSIEC will hold between October 8 and October 10, while hearing of appeals/complaints by Appeals screening committee will come between October 11 and 12.
The timetable further gave October 14 to 15 as dates for substitution and screening of substituted candidates.
According to the timetable, final publication of lists of candidates will be done on October 16, while electioneering campaigns will come between October 18 October 31.
The state Chairman of Abia State Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Hon. Nelson Uluocha, commended ABSIEC for “starting well” and promised that the political parties in the state would cooperate with the commission.
All 19 political parties in the state were represented at the event except the All Progressives Congress, APC.
