*Commission Unveils Timetable
Imo State Independent Electoral Commission, ISIEC, says the 2024 Local Government Council Elections will hold on September 21st in all the 27 local government areas of the state.
ISIEC Chairman, Charles Ejiogu, made this revelation in his address, at the Flag Off of Activities for The 2024 Imo State Council Elections, held on Wednesday at Rockview Hotel Owerri, with stakeholders, President Generals, Youth Leaders, Traditional Rulers, Sole Administrators across the State.
Ejiogu who advised all registered political parties to play the game according to the rules to ensure a free, peaceful and credible poll, noted that positions to be contested in the polls are Chairmanship, Vice Chairmanship and Councillorship.
He stated that political parties can commence politicking as the race has been officially unveiled by the Commission.
According to the ISIEC Chairman, “Pursuant to Establishment Law No 14 of 2000 as amended, the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission is charged with the task of conducting, 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.
“Therefore, the Commission is using this opportunity to assure all critical stakeholders of its preparedness to perform its constitutional duty.
“Today’s stakeholders meeting is to release Election Guidelines and Time Table as part of the activities that will ultimately usher in the emergence of 27 democratically Council Chairmen, their Deputies, and 305 Councilors, in line with our announcement of 24th May, 2024”.he said.
Ejiogu, revealed that arrangements for the recruitment of Ad-Hoc personnel are in top gear, such as field and internal Ad-Hoc personnel.
He said the “Commission is not oblivious of the imperatives of putting in place water-tight security architecture.
“Adequate logistics and ground power will be mounted as it is key to the successful conduct of the forthcoming Council polls”.
He added that the “Commission’s on-going sensitization and mobilization efforts with critical stakeholders is on course as Traditional Rulers, Presidents General, Opinion Leaders, Women and Youth Groups, Market Associations, Trade Groups, Civil Society Organizations, Clergy and Faith Based Organization, Political Leaders are among those invited for this meeting”.
“We are liaising with other democratic institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission and we are satisfied with their level of support so far, even as we look forward to more of such support.
“The security agencies have also assured us of their readiness to render necessary assistance.
“The voluntary agencies are not left out in this regard and we cannot take anyone of them for granted”.
“As an established strategic partner in progress, the Fourth Estate or the Realm (Media) deserve our special recognition as they have Continued to lend measurable empathy and support through their balanced reportage so far.
“We hereby appeal to the Media to remain our veritable partner as we move forward with our commitment to ensure a peaceful, transparent and credible electoral process.
“The registered political parties are hereby enjoined to play according to the rules, even as the Commission appeal to them to constructively engage their aspirants, candidates by observing to the utmost, the doctrine/principle of internal democracy.
“The Imo State Independent Electoral Commission will not shirk its mandated duty of observing the primaries as duly stipulated in Electoral Act as amended.
“I hereby state unequivocally that the upcoming 2024 Imo State Local Government Council Elections will be peaceful, transparent, and credible, God willing. Having come thus far, and by virtue of the powers conferred on me, as the Chief Electoral Officer of Imo State and for the purposes of contestants participating actively in forthcoming council polls, I hereby declare that all the registered political parties can now start to politick”, Ejiogu concluded