Clement Nnachi, Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) has fixed August 15, 2020, as the date for the conduct of Local Government Election across the 13 councils of the state.
Chairman of the Commission, Barr. Jossy Eze, made the disclosure, in Abakaliki, on Wednesday, during a Consultative meeting with different Political Parties, Stakeholders, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and media practitioners on the lifting of suspension of Political Activities in the state.
He said that every Political Activity leading to the election must be Covid-19 compliance.
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“We are now ready with activities leading to Local Government elections in the State, Saturday August 15th 2020, a date for the conduct of Local Government Election to elect Chairmen and Councillors in the 13 Councils in the State.
“In fixing the date, we were mindful of Covid-19 Rules, EBSIEC has revised it’s Guidelines to be in line with Covid-19 Protocols.”
Barr. Eze said that the Commission was not starting the processes afresh stating “we merely suspended the exercise last April, we are taking off from where we stopped.”
He urged various Political Parties participating in the election to inform the general public of all the activities of the Commission comprising ad-hoc staff. enlightenment, sensitisation and campaigns.
“Whatever they need to do, the campaigns of Political Parties, must comply with Covid-19 protocols, Social Distancing. Use of Sanitisers, Use of Face Mask among others”
He assured representatives of different Political Parties that the Commission would ensure a level playing ground for all gladiators in the election.
The EBSIEC Chairman allayed fears expressed in some quarters that certain litigations pending in courts may affect the conduct of the election insisting that the Commission has all the legal authority for the conduct of the exercise.
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In his contribution, the Ebonyi State Chairman of the Action Alliance Party Mr James Obasi, urged the State Electoral Commission to be transparent in the conduct of the election.
The Consultative meeting had in attendance the Commission Secretary Barr. Chukwuemeka Orji and a Commissioner in the Commission Mr Hans Office.
It would be recalled that the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) had initially fixed April 25th 2020 for the conduct of Local Government Polls but suspended the exercise due to the outbreak of corona virus pandemic.
