Benue LG Polls: BSIEC boss assures free, fair election
By Titus Atondu, Makurdi
Preparatory to October, 5th 2024 billed for the Conduct of the Local Government elections, The Benue State Independent Electoral Commission has reiterated its readiness to conduct a free, fair, and credible local government election on October 5, 2024.
The Chairman of BSIEC, Richard Tombowua, made this known during a press briefing at the commission’s headquarters in Makurdi.
He revealed that the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) has communicated him officially to work with the 7- man caretaker committee led by Hon. Benjamin Omale in dealing with the party in the State.
Barr. Tombowua made the disclosure while briefing Journalists preparatory to the forthcoming local government elections on Thursday at the Commission’s headquarters in Makurdi.
He explained that the Commission have carried out verification of candidates for the election on September 12, 2024, addo that on Monday 16 September,2024, political parties returned names of substituted candidates.
He further explained that on Tuesday 17 September, 2024 the commission displayed the list of substituted candidates by the political parties .
“The election date still stand at October 5, 2024. On our part, we are ready to conduct free, fair and credible election. Initially 14 political parties indicated interest to participate in the election but at the end, 8 parties are fielding candidates to contest in the election. The parties include, African Action Congress, (AAC)All Progressives Congress, APGA) Labor Party, (LP)New Nigeria Peoples’ Party, (NNPC) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Social Democratic Party, (SDP) and Zenith Labor Party (ZLP).
“The House of Assembly approved our budget of 6 billion naira and as for payment, we are getting it as it is coming. We have procured vehicles, received 21, waiting for the remaining ones and paid for provision of sensitive and non sensitive materials to enable us conduct the election.
“We have already started receiving most of the materials we are going to use in the election. We also have other activities which will commence from Saturday 21, 2024 to October 5, 2024. We have made arrangements for the training of staff and adhoc staff begining from Thursday next week”. Tombuwua maintained.
The Chairman expressed the readiness of the commission to conduct free, fair, transparent and credible local government polls come 5th October, 2024.
