Owerri—IMO State Independent Electoral Commission, ISIEC, will engage about 13,000 ad hoc workers for the 7 August local government elections, the Commission’s Chairman, Chief Emma Nwonye, has said.

Nwonye gave the information in an interview in Owerri, Tuesday, saying the Commission was holding consultations with various groups toward achieving a successful election.

He named the groups as security agencies, traditional rulers and town union executives.

He further explained that the Commission planned to forward a proposal to the state Chief Judge for the constitution of ad hoc courts in the three senatorial zones to try electoral offenders.

He said the essence of the courts was to ensure summary trial and conviction of those who  contravened the electoral law on election day.

Nwonye said that about 100 candidates from different political parties obtained nomination forms for the chairmanship election in the 27 local government areas of the state.

He said the screening of the chairmanship and councillorship aspirants for the elections would soon commence.

The chairman said that the commission had embarked on voters’ education.