Ebonyi releases timetable for council poll, adopts option A4

The Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission on Monday released the timetable for the conduct of the 2013 local government election in the state.
The election would be held on September 28.
The EBSIEC said it would adopt Option A4 for the poll.
Activities before the elections are: issuance of forms to registered political parties, setting up of a screening committee and submission of names of party agents.
Others are: notice of withdrawal of nomination by candidates, screening of candidates, release of list of successful candidates, submission of appeal against disqualification among others, are also to hold at specified dates.
The Chairman of EBSIEC, John Nkwuda, said the Local Government Councils and Development Centres (Amendment) Law stipulated that the tenure of the incumbent councils executives would end on October 31.
Nkwuda said: “It, therefore, becomes necessary that EBSIEC which has the constitutional mandate of organising elections in local councils starts the process of electing new crop of officers to take over from the incumbents.
“Therefore, in compliance with the provision of the State Electoral Law No.002 of 2013 (as amended) which provides for 90 days notice of election and 30 days before the expiration of the incumbent, a 90-day notice of elections is hereby given.”
According to him, participating political parties should adhere strictly to rules specified in their parties’ constitution for the conduct of primaries to select candidates.
Nkwuda said: “Ward primaries should be held on a chosen date while that of councils should be held on another date as such dates, venues and time must be in consonance with EBSIEC timetable.”
He assured all participating political parties of a level-playing ground, and assured the people that the commission was prepared to conduct a successful election.
“We, therefore, need the support of all to succeed in this task as we all should ensure that elections are devoid of violence and electoral malpractice,” he said.
Chief Alphonsus Nwali, factional Chairman, All Progressive Grand Alliance in Ebonyi State, expressed the worry of the opposition on the conduct of free elections by EBSIEC.
Nwali said: “Our main worry is the adoption of the Option A4 system of voting, which leaves voters at the mercy of the government in power, for voting for candidates of their choices.
“We know of some civil servants who were denied their salaries during the last general election for voting against the ruling party (the Peoples Democratic Party).”
In his response, the Chairman, Ebonyi State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government, Chieftaincy and Electoral Matters, Chief Julius Nwokpor, said that anyone who opposed the voting system was undemocratic.
Nwokpor said: “This system gives room for voters to freely and confidently stand behind and vote for candidates of their choices.
“It was used during the June12, 1993 presidential election, adjudged as the freest and fairest in the nation’s history.”
He said that the House consulted relevant stakeholders before adopting the voting system as EBSIEC should not be persecuted for adopting the system.