By Jude Opara
The Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) has fixed November 2 to conduct local government (LGAs) elections.
ABSIEC Chairman George Chima announced the date and timetable on Saturday in Umuahia during a meeting with political parties and other stakeholders in the state.
The Chairmanship and Councillorship elections will be conducted in 184 wards in the state.
Mr Chima told the stakeholders that the essence of the meeting was to assure them of the desire and determination of the commission to ensure that the right things were done.
Giving further details, he said the political party primaries were scheduled to be held between September 25 and October 4, while the submission of the list of candidates would be held from October 5 to October 7.
The ABSIEC chairman said the parties were expected to commence their electioneering campaigns on October 18 and finish on October 31.
He said the present commission comprised men and women of integrity and outstanding pedigree “committed to changing the narratives.”
Mr Chima called on all stakeholders to ensure the contestants and political parties played according to the rules.
“The commission is determined to make the elections free, fair and credible and also ensure that the elections will be seen as such,” he said.
Giving the vote of thanks, Chimez Iwuoha, the chairman of the state Inter-Party Advisory Council, assured that the 19 political parties would work harmoniously for the success of the elections.“ With a total of N2,946,927,155 already disbursed to 27,667 from 19 institutions in the country, South East higher institutions were conspicuously missing from the list.
“ In its defence, NELFUND has stated that the absence of beneficiaries from South East institutions was because even though verification lists have been sent to all schools, South East institutions are yet to respond to their request for the verification of the lists sent to them”.
