From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The lingering Local Government Council Elections in Kogi state is to be conducted before the end of this year just as the SIEC Chairman, Mamman Eri has promised thorough job to guard against his reputation.
The Chairman of the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KSIEC), Mamman Eri, disclosed this at a stakeholders meeting held in Lokoja yesterday in preparation for the conduct of the council elections in the 21 local government areas of the state billed to hold before the end of this year.
In his opening address, the SIEC chairman stated that the meeting was called to sensitise the political parties on preparations for the polls and to brainstorm on agreeable date for the election before it would be made public in order to put to rest the rumours making the rounds that Kogi will not have local government council elections.
According to the SIEC Chairman, the third schedule part II (B), Section 4 (a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 provides for the establishment of KOSIEC with the primary duty to “organize, undertake and supervise all elections to Local Government Councils within the state.
” Section 21 of the KOSIEC Law also provides that the Notice of Elections shall be published not less than 90 days before the date of election.
Eri hinted that the essence of this first stakeholder’s meeting is to seek the consent of all political parties in the state to brainstorm on an agreed date and timetable of events towards the conduct of free, fair and credible elections.
He assured that the commission would provide level play ground for all political parties and ensure a free, fair and credible elections .
The SIEC chairman also urged political parties to play the game according to the rule with a view to ensuring a peaceful, credible, free and fair Local Government Elections in the state.
Responding to questions from stakeholders on the probability of holding a credible election, the KOSIEC boss said: “I want to allay the fears and erase the wrong perception of some of you about KOSIEC being partisan particularly from members of the opposition parties in the state. We wish to place on record our avowed commitment towards ensuring that there is a level playing field for each and every participant and stakeholder in the forthcoming local government elections irrespective of political divide and affiliations.
Among the political parties that attended the meeting include; the All Progressives Congress (APC), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
