LG polls: Enugu electoral body declares 90% readiness ahead of September 26

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The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission says it is over 90 per cent ready for the September 26 local government election in the state.

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The Executive Chairman of ENSIEC, Prof. Christian Ngwu, disclosed this at a news briefing in Enugu on Monday.

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Ngwu said the commission was putting finishing touches to its arrangements and training ahead of the polls.

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“It is only few things remaining and we are finalising and putting finishing touches on them,” he said.

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He also said the commission had trained the trainers of the ad hoc staff and advertised for the recruitment of the ad hoc staff, while their training would commence in a few days.

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He said that “almost all the materials for the elections are ready”.

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Ngwu said the “non sensitive materials will be leaving ENSIEC headquarters in Enugu latest Thursday, Sept. 17, to council headquarters”.

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According to him, the sensitive materials would be received and kept in a safe place for now.

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“We will soon conclude arrangements with transport unions and companies to ensure adequate logistics facilities.

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“The commission is already having a fruitful conclusion of security arrangement with security agencies in the state with the Police as lead agency,” Ngwu said.

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He said the Independent National Electoral Commission would soon avail ENSIEC with the authentic voters’ register of the state to work with.

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“I am calling on residents of Enugu State to troop out en masse to cast their votes for their preferred candidates without fear or favour.

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“ENSIEC will continue to provide a level playing field for all the candidates in the elections.

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“The commission will provide a conducive and secure environment as well as ensure peaceful, hitch-free, transparent, and credible elections on September 26,” Ngwu said.

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He also said the commission had pasted the notice of election in strategic locations across the local government areas.

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He said the notice contained information on how to vote correctly and the positive behavioural conduct expected during and after casting one’s vote.

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The News Agency of Nigeria reports that 11 political parties would field candidates in the polls.

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ENSIEC had, two weeks earlier, concluded its train-the-trainer workshop for its officials, including 17 electoral officers for each of the 17 council areas, 17 assistant electoral officers, seven directors, five commissioners and an administrative secretary.

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The commission scheduled elections for 17 chairmanship and 260 councillorship positions in the state for September 26.

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