Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC), Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak has announced that 12 out of 19 political parties present in Akwa Ibom State, are set to contest the October 05 Local Government Elections.
Ikoiwak who made the announcement on Monday, while briefing select journalists at the commission’s headquarters, Udo Udoma Avenue, on the commission’s level of preparedness to conduct free, fair and credible elections across the 31 LGAs in the State.
According to him, through robust interactions with all the political parties in the state, 12 political parties had submitted names of their candidates and equally returned their nomination forms.
The AKISIEK boss noted that the commission was determined to provide a level playing ground for all the parties in the state to contest the election.
“We have been having smooth relationships with political parties. From our first interactions, we have had the 19 political parties with us. 12 of them have submitted names of their candidates and have also returned their nomination forms,” he explained.
On other accomplishments of the commission ahead of the elections, Ikoiwak told journalists that arrangements had been concluded for the deployment of 14, 0000 security personnel to all the 4, 353 polling units and 369 wards across the 31 local government areas of the state to ensure strict security measures during the exercise.
He said this was made possible through the commission’s Consultative Committee Meeting on Election Security, which has the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command and other security chiefs as lead members.
“Apart from issuance of notice, we have had meetings with security – Consultative Committee on Election Security which has the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command and other heads of security agencies in the state as members”.
Also, over 17,000 forms had been received by the commission from people who had applied to work as the commission’s ad-hoc staff during the election but AKISIEC will only engage between 12,000 and 13,000 after thorough screening”. He noted.
Mr. Ikoiwak however expressed confidence that, with the level of the commission’s preparedness, support of the relevant stakeholders and release of funds by the State Government, the forthcoming local government election would reflect the wishes and aspirations of the Akwa Ibom people.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE