…Says election will be conducted in 4,758 polling units across 305 wards
By Eze Adiuku
The much anticipated election into the 27 local government areas in Imo State has been slated for 21st September, 2024.
According to the Chairman of Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC), Chief Charles Ejiogu during a meeting with stakeholders in Owerri on Wednesday, the local government election will take place in 4,758 polling units across the 305 wards of the State.
The ISIEC boss said: “We have gathered the stakeholders to show our determination to deepen democratic governance at the grassroots level in Imo State. It has to be on record that following Nigeria’s return to constitutional governance in 1999, the forthcoming Local Government Council elections into the offices of Council Chairmen, Vice Chairmen and Councilors, will be the fifth having had elections in 1999, 2004, 2010, and 2018 respectively at the third tier.
“Pursuant to its establishment Law No 14 of 2000 as amended, the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission is charged with the task of conducting and supervising a free, transparent, and credible local government council elections in Imo State.
“To this end, the commission 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”.
Ejiogu charged Imo electorate to take advantage of the election to perform their constitutiona duty.
“We have released the 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.
“Arrangements for the recruitment of Ad-hoc personnel are in top gear and this will include field and internal Ad-hoc personnel.
“The Commission is not oblivious of the imperatives of putting in place water-tight security architecture and will stop at nothing in doing just that. Adequate logistics and ground power will be mounted as it is key to the successful conduct of the forthcoming Council polls.
“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) deserves our special recognition as they have continued to lend measurable empathy and support through their balanced reportage so far.
“The registered political parties are enjoined to play according to the rules, even as the Commission appealed 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”, he stated.
Many stakeholders attending the meeting among whom are royal fathers, Presidents General, opinion leaders, women and youth groups, market associations, trade union groups, Civil Society Organizations, Media, Clergy, and Political Leaders..
