LG polls: ISIEC clears 1,400 candidates

Owerri – Imo State Independent Electoral Commission, ISIEC, has cleared 1,400 candidates for the 7 August local government elections.

Chairman of the commission, Chief Emma Nwonye, gave the figure in a statement issued in Owerri yesterday.
Nwonye said the number comprised  270 chairmanship candidates and 1,130 for councillorship positions.

He said  21 political parties would take part in the election in the 305 wards that make up the 27 local government areas of the state.

The ISIEC chairman, who said that the commission was ready to conduct credible, free and fair elections, dispelled the fear that it would favour a particular party.

“It is common to hear allegations about favouring a particular party or candidate during elections, but we are not going to favour any party,” he said.

The commission’s chairman further said that preparation for the polls had reached an advanced stage, adding that “everything we ought to do is being done.”

He said “arrangements have been made to ensure adequate security and  election materials are ready.

“Training of members of staff is still ongoing, I want to thank the governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, for providing all that we need for the election.”

Nwonye said that political parties, the House of Assembly and the people had been cooperating with the commission to ensure successful elections.