A total of 900 candidates of political parties in Akwa Ibom State have been cleared to contest the Saturday December 2, 2017 local government elections in the state.
Briefing newsmen Tuesday in Uyo, Aniedi Ikoiwak, the Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC), said candidates in the 12 political parties have been cleared to participate in the elections.
Ikoiwak stated, “Let me say here unequivocally that come Saturday, December 2, 2017, AKISIEC is ready to conduct the local government elections that will be generally accepted by the good people of Akwa Ibom State.”
The Commission, he said, had deployed to AKISIEC Area offices in the 31 local government areas non-sensitive materials while the sensitive ones shall be deployed 24 hours to the elections.
“We have trained our ad-hoc staff and re-trained our electoral officers and other support staff”, he said, noting that voting will begin at 8 a.m. and closes at 2 p.m.
According to him, the Commission will rely on the 2015 voters register produced by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the elections.
He disclosed that those who just registered with INEC in the on-going continuous voter registration exercise will not vote as his/her name will not be in the 2015 voters register.
“However, the people who have lost their Permanent Voter Card (PVC) and their names are in the register will be allowed to vote,” he posited.
The AKISIEC boss ruled out the possibility of using the card reader machine for the election saying for now the only instrument authorised by law for the conduct of elections in the country is the voters register until the law is amended.
Ikoiwak stressed that 20 observer groups especially members of the civil society have been accredited to observe the conduct of the elections.
He appealed to eligible voters to go to voting units to exercise their civic duty without any fear, saying that security operatives would be on ground to protect persons and materials.
