The Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) has begun the distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials across the 4,758 polling units in the state, with 17 out of 19 registered political parties participating in today’s exercise.
Earlier, during an interaction with some journalists at the commission’s office, the ISIEC chairman, Charles Ejiogu, disclosed that the commission decided to distribute the electoral materials today in order to safeguard them from being destroyed.
Ejiogu further informed that the same measure applies to the display of the voters’ register, noting that past experiences have shown that some people indulge in the habit of tearing down the voters’ register when it is posted a few days before the election.
He said that the commission is fully prepared to conduct a transparent exercise that will usher in 27 local council chairmen and 305 councilors, who will navigate the affairs of the councils for the next two years.
The ISIEC boss noted that, by the mandate given to the commission, as enunciated in Establishment Law No. 14 of 2000, which empowers it to conduct and supervise local council elections, the commission is committed to delivering a credible and transparent process to the people of the state.
He pointed out that the current exercise will be the fourth election conducted by the commission since its establishment.
The state’s chief electoral umpire further noted that the commission is not ignorant of the challenges it faces, but stated that these problems are not insurmountable, as bold steps have been taken to address some of the issues.
“On June 16 this year, we made a public presentation of some of the guidelines for the conduct of this year’s election and assured that we would provide a level playing field for all critical political stakeholders, from which we have never deviated. We remain consistent with our course.
“We took ample cognizance of the existence of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), the umbrella body that oversees the affairs of all political parties nationwide, because we know that an election is a process that, once started, cannot be stopped midway. The political stakeholders should see themselves as part of the process.”
He informed that the exercise will involve 4,758 polling units across the 305 wards in the state and that the commission expects the electorate to come out and exercise their franchise without any fear of intimidation.
Ejiogu said that, in an effort to deliver a fair and transparent exercise, the commission has engaged in constant interaction with various political parties to ensure a level playing field for all.
He acknowledged the efforts of the media in projecting the commission’s activities with a high sense of professionalism, stating that they are reliable partners in the task of delivering a credible election to the state.
In terms of security, the ISIEC boss informed that the commission held crucial meetings with various security agencies a few days ago to ensure a hitch-free exercise.
However, he reiterated that the commission’s earlier decision stands—elections will not take place in some volatile areas like Okigwe, Onuimo, Orsu, Orlu, and the Mbano axis due to security reports.