Anambra fixes October 5 for LG polls

AWKA—AFTER 15 years of waiting, Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC, Monday, fixed the conduct of the local government elections in the state for October 5, 2015.

Chief Sylvester Okonkwo, the acting chairman of ANSIEC, at an interactive session with stakeholders drawn from all the political parties in the state, said the commission would start the process in earnest to ensure a free and fair exercise.

Releasing the notice of the election, Okonkwo said: “In accordance with the provisions of Section 7 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Sections 153 and 163 of the local government law, No.5 of 1999 of Anambra State, as well as Section 31 of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended, notice is hereby given that election for the post of chairmanship for the 21 local government councils and councillorship for the 327 electoral wards in the state shall hold on October 5, 2013 in Anambra State.

“Duly completed nomination forms are to be submitted to the commission’s headquarters on or before Thursday,  August 15, 2013.”

Okonkwo said though he was already being threatened with court injunctions if the commission went ahead to conduct the exercise, he would not be intimidated by anybody, adding that by next Monday, ANSIEC would unveil the electoral guidelines and timetable for the polls.

He prayed God to blind trouble makers who would attempt to disrupt the exercise and make them deaf and dumb until the election was over.

He assured the people of the state that ANSIEC was committed and respected individuals who would not be compromised.

Explaining what delayed the exercise over the years, the acting chairman said: “I am towing the path of the Holy spirit in this venture. A lot has been said about the local government election since the last exercise was conducted in1988.

“For instance, in 2001, we had everything ready for the election, but the then President Obasanjo asked all the governors not to conduct it”.