Anambra Restricts Movement for Council Polls , says 24 Political Parties Will Participate In Election

              

The Commissioner in-charge of the Anambra Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), Hon. Sylvester Okonkwo yesterday confirmed that only the All Progressive Congress (APC) has officially served notice that it will not participate in Saturdays Local Government election.

Addressing some journalists at the ANSIEC headquarters Awka, Okonkwo stated that initially 25 registered political parties indicated interest to field candidates as chairmen and councilors, but however said the APC wrote to say they have pulled out in the election.



Okonkwo said that 25 political parties indicated interest, but today it is 24 that will participate in the election.  “The only party not contesting is APC and they wrote the commission officially few days ago, saying they have suspended their participation. However, some other political parties, including the PDP sent us text that they are not contesting. I am sure that all the other political parties will come out to contest”.

He gave strong indications that the election must hold today (Saturday), assuring that  all arrangements have been concluded, just as he insisted that ANSIEC is committed to providing a level playing ground to all candidates, under adequate security arrangement which has been made.      

According to him, movement has been restricted between 8.00am till 6.00pm on Saturday, warning motorists and commuters that state borders would be closed to traffic from 10.00pm on Friday. 

On the number of officers available to help in conducting the council election across Anambra State, Okonkwo explained that 5000 will work as presiding officers; 400 as SPOs, 400 as ward returning officers and 30 local government returning officers, adding that all have been well trained for the job.

He further disclosed that three security officers including the army, police and civil defense personnel would supervise each of the polling boots.

Okonkwo in answering a question said ANSIEC could not display the revised voters register, insisting the commission has no right to display the document. “We kept the revised voters register in the local government offices under the supervision of electoral officers for the public to go and verify their names, insisting that the booklets are in perfect order.

He urged Anambra citizens to come out en masses and vote for their rightful candidates, reminding that since 1998, the council polls have not been conducted in the state.

Okonkwo who wondered why some political parties and their leaders decided to pull out from the election, reminded that the state and candidates have invested a lot of money for the exercise, and it should be allowed to hold.

Meanwhile, when our reporter visited the ANSIEC office yesterday, some local election observers, pressmen and civil society organizations etc. were seen going through the process of their accreditation, while officers were busy collecting and loading election materials in vehicles for on ward transportation to various local government areas.