By John Odunjo
The Chairman, Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission, Justice Cornelius Akintayo (retd), has said that the December 2, 2023 local government and local council development area elections in the state will be free, fair, credible and acceptable.
The tenure of the elected chairmen and councilors in the lgs and LCDAs in Ekiti State will expire in December 2023.
Akintayo, who said that SIEC had begun processes for the election in line with the law, while electioneering campaign had started since September 18, 2023, said all political parties were expected to participate in the polls.
He disclosed that ward congresses to elect councillorship candidates of different parties had been slated for Saturday, September 30, while the congresses for emergence of chairmanship candidates of the different parties would hold on Saturday, October 7.
The SIEC Chairman, who spoke at a press conference in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, said that the commission would conduct councillorship and chairmanship elections in the 16 local government areas and the 22 LCDAs.
He said, “All registered political parties in Nigeria are allowed by law to participate. All political parties should gather their loins to participate”.
Akintayo said that as part of efforts to ensure larger number of registered voters in the state participate in the exercise, “the commission will step up political awareness, move round the various local governments and LCDAs to sensitive the people that it is their rights to participate in the civic exercise”.
The SIEC boss sought support of Ekiti people for the electoral body to ensure hitch-free conduct of the exercise.
He said, “We are prepared to conduct a free, fair and credible election. We are going to provide conducive atmosphere for free, fair, credible and acceptable polls”.
