…Meets stakeholders, media
By Williams Odunze
In preparation for the forthcoming Local Government Elections slated for September 21 across the 27 LGAs in the State, the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission, ISIEC, has assured Ndi Imo of free, fair and peaceful exercise.
The Chairman of the Commission, Chief Charles Ejiogu gave the assurance, yesterday ,while addressing participants during stakeholders meeting on how to achieve credible election.
Chief Ejiogu informed that the forthcoming poll will be the fifth time such exercise is taking place in the State since the re-enthronement of Democratic Governance in 1999.
He recalled that it held such exercise in 1999,2004,2010 and 2018, respectively.
The ISIEC Boss who highlighted the importance of the exercise, maintained that the LGA which is the third tier of government remains the bedrock for even development in the rural areas and the only source of deepening Democratic at the grassroots.
He said following the law establishing the Commission in 2000 as amended in Law No14, empowers
ISIEC with the responsibilities of conducting and supervising a free, transparent, and credible Local Government council elections in the 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 September, 21, 2024.”
Therefore, the Commission is taking this opportunity to assure all critical stakeholders of its preparedness to perform its constitutional duty.
“The stakeholders meeting,he stated is to release Election Guidelines and time table as part of the activities that will ultimately usher in the emergence of 27 democratically elected Council Chairmen, their Deputies, and 305 Councilors.”he said.
The ISIEC Chairman, further informed that arrangements for the recruitment of Ad-Hoc personnel are in top gear and that it will include field and internal Ad-Hoc Personnel’s.
Talking about Security,he stated that the Commission is not oblivious of the imperatives of putting in place water-tight security as it is in touch with heads of security agencies in order to achieve a hitch free exercise and will stop at nothing in doing just that.
He maintained that adequate logistics and grand manpower will be mounted as it is key to the successful conduct of the forthcoming Council polls.
Chief Ejiogu further made emphasis on the Commission’s on-going sensitisation and mobilization efforts with critical stakeholders, informing that meetings with Traditional Rulers, President General, Political Leaders and other relevant bodies are still on course.
“We are also,liaising with other democratic institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission ,INEC,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”he informed.
He also noted the importance of the media on the forthcoming exercise emphasizing that the Fourth Estate of the Realms remains sacrosanct stakeholders and established strategic partners in progress.
In a similar vein, the ISIEC Boss used the moment to commend the Governor for creating the opportunity for the exercise to see the light of the day as he assured that he will deliver on the task given to him.
Those present at the meeting were, Heads of security agencies, Sole Administrators of the 27 LGAs in the State, Political Leaders, Traditional Rulers, President General, Civil Society Organization, Market Women, Youth Groups and Religious Leaders..
