Enugu to conduct council poll Nov 4

From; Madu Ezenoha, Enugu

The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) has fixed November , 2017 for the conduct of local government election in the 17 councils in the state .

Chairman of the Commission, Dr Mike Ajogwu (SAN) announced the date when the Commission hosted major stakeholders including leaders of various political parties to formally declare its intention to conduct council election in the state on Tuesday.

He said parties were expected to obtain nomination forms for chairmanship and councillorship elections respectively between 21 to 25 August, while nomination forms shall be completed and returned to the Commission on or before October 3, 2017 by all the parties.

Ajogwu said the commission’s decision to conduct the election was pursuant to the provisions of the 1999 constitution as amended, third schedule part 11 B4 which empowered state independent electoral commission to “organize, undertake snd supervise all elections to councils within the state.

“In compliance with the mandate of the commission as contained in Section 7 of ENSIEC Lsw Cap. 59 Law of Enugu 2004 together with the provision of Section 11(1) of Enugu State Local Government Law Cap. 109 Laws of Enugu State 2004, Notice is hereby given that Election to councils in the state shall hold on 4th November, 2017,” he said.

Ajogwu who spoke to the audience that included former chairman of the commission, Igwe Abel Nwobodo and Igwe Onyioha Nwanjoku noted that the commission would strive to live above board in the conduct of the elections by ensuring that a credible election devoid of rancor and acrimony was held in the state.

According to him, since the Commission was not a political party, “it is independent and our duty as the operators of the system is to try as much as possible to be and to live in accordance with our name, that’s to say, to be independent and to hold the stake as umpire”.

While warning political parties to comply strictly with the provisions of the law in the conduct of primary elections and election of flag bearers, Ajogwu said the commission would not hesitate to disqualify any candidates found wanting.