The Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC), has unveiled the timetable for the conduct of council poll in the state.
ABSIEC Chairman, Professor George Chima, who unveiled the timetable at the Commission’s headquarters, Ogurube Layout Umuahia, on Saturday, said the poll would hold on Saturday, November 2, 2024.
According to the timetable, party primaries will begin from September 25 and end October 4; while submission of list of candidates by political parties will begin from October 5 and end October 7.
It indicated that screening of candidates by ABSIEC will hold between October 8 and October 10, while hearing of appeals/complaints by Appeals screening committee will come between October 11 and 12.
The timetable further gave October 14 to 15 as dates for substitution and screening of substituted candidates.
According to the timetable, final publication of lists of candidates will be done on October 16, while electioneering campaigns will come between October 18 October 31.
Addressing stakeholders during the unveiling ceremony attended by the Chairmen and Secretaries of 18 political parties, the ABSIEC boss assured that the commission would maintain neutrality in the discharge of its duty.
He said members of the commission placed high premium on the integrity of the poll, and would not engage in any act capable of questioning the integrity of the exercise.
” We have been set up to give free, fair and unpolluted election that will be accepted by Abians”, he assured.
He solicited the cooperation of the parties, urging them to comply with the timetable as the commission will insist on strict compliance.
Professor Chima told the parties to give the commission at least three -day notice before the date of their primaries for monitoring.
Responding to questions by some of the representatives of political parties who complained that the commission did not give them enough time to prepare for the poll, the ABSIEC boss explained that the commission was trying to beat the three month deadline by the Federal Government to states to conduct Council poll or their Council allocations would be withheld.
He apologized to the parties for the short notice but promised to carry them along.
Asked wether the commission would be making use of INEC’s voters’ register, the ABSIEC Chairman answered in the affirmative but ruled out the chances of using the Bimodal Voters Accreditation (BIVAS) machines.
He, however, said the commission would employ the services of both the conventional and non-conventional security apparatus in the conduct of the exercise for maximum security.
Responding on behalf of the political parties , the Chairman of Abia State Inter party Advisory Council, IPAC, Hon. Nelson Uluocha, commended ABSIEC for “starting well” and for promising to carry political parties along.
He promised that political parties in the state would fully cooperate with the electoral umpire.
Eighteen political parties were represented while the All Progressives Congress (APC) was said to be on the way.
