…releases timetable
The Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) has expressed it’s readiness to conduct free, fair and transparent local government elections come September 21, 2024.
The Chairman of the Commission, Chief Charles Ejiogu disclosed this, Wednesday during a-one day stakeholders meeting in Owerri.
He noted that the September 21 council polls will be the fifth since the return to democracy, having held in 1999, 2004, 2010, and 2018 respectively.
“Pursuant to its establishment Law No 14 of 2000 as amended, the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) is charged with the task of conducting and supervising a free, transparent, and credible local government council elections in Imo State.
“To this end, ISIEC has scheduled to conduct the much expected Council elections into the 305 Registration Areas/Wards and in all the 4,758 polling units in the 27 Local Government Area Councils of Imo State, come Saturday 21 September, 2024.”
Chief Ejiogu added that the essence of the meeting was to release Election Guidelines and Time Table as part of the activities that would usher in the emergence of 27 democratically elected Council Chairmen, their Deputies, and 305 Councilors.
He equally announced that arrangements had begun for the recruitment of Ad-Hoc personnel, while assuring of water-tight security during the polls.
He appealed to Journalists in the state to shun unwholesome and sensational reportage that could snowball into stoking the fire of acrimony, while promising that the Commission will be accessible to the media at all times to verify and cross check facts.
The ISIEC Boss enjoined registered political parties to play according to the rules, and promised that the Commission would not shirk its mandated duty of observing the Primaries as duly stipulated in Electoral Act as amended.
He equally commended the Imo State government for creating the enabling environment for ISIEC to deliver on its mandate and assured all the registered political parties, their candidates and the public of a level playing field for all contestants.
The Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Mr. Levi Eke said he was convinced that the local government elections will hold on September 21, stressing that the ISIEC chairman had repeatedly reassured him of the commission’s willingness to conduct a credible council polls.
Highpoints of the meeting were the formal unveiling of electoral guideline and time table and the handing over of the electoral guideline to the IPAC Chairman, Mr. Levi Eke for onward delivery to other political parties.
Those present at the meeting were traditional rulers, Sole Administrators, President Generals, ISIEC Commissioners, Clergymen, all political parties under IPAC ably led by Levi Eke, disable groups, security agencies, opinion leaders and others.
