The Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission, CROSIEC, has scheduled local government election primaries for October 2022.
The chairman of CROSIEC, Dr. Mike Ushie, who released the timetable for the elections scheduled for May 24, 2023, before representatives of political parties, said the move complied with the 2022 Electoral Act.
Recalled that on May 30, 2022, Dr. Ushie had issued a notice of the 2023 local government elections in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, south-south Nigeria.
CRITICAL TIMELINES
Ushie explained that unveiling its timetable was to enable the political parties to comply with critical timelines such as primaries, submission of candidates’ nomination forms, and campaigns for the successful conduct of local government elections.
“The essence of the timetable is to attach timelines to whatever we are doing.
“We have critical timelines when parties are supposed to begin their primaries, when they are to submit the list of their candidates, when nomination forms are to be collected, returned, and more,” said the chairman.
According to the chairman, the commission was taking necessary measures to ensure compliance with the 2022 Electoral Act as amended, which prescribes one year for any election process, contrary to speculations from certain quarters that the timing was off.
Ushie said, “on May 30, 2022, we issued the notice of election, and by the timetable, we have set strategic timelines.
“The law of every SIEC stipulates the tenure of council chairmen. Their tenure will end in June 2023, and the election is scheduled for May 24, 2023.
“After their tenure, we cannot have caretaker committees. It is not about struggling to have people in office; we should also consider those parameters. Here, look at the timelines; what better times do we have to do elections,” he enquired.
TRANSPARENCY ASSURED
The CROSIEC boss also urged the political parties in attendance to adhere to the guidelines while assuring of transparency, fairness, and provision of a level playing field.
Ushie said, “one issue raised with the political parties was for members to do their part to succeed. If any party decides not to work while others are working, such a political party has no right to complain.
“We urge all of you to go to the field and work–field candidates, campaign, sell your manifesto, and people will vote.
“Members of this commission are men and women of integrity, and we will do nothing that would jeopardise our integrity; we must do the right thing.
“If you recall, political parties were in the race the last time except for APC (All Progressives Congress).
“Then APC was divided, which cost the party’s victory at the polls. It was no fault of CROSIEC.
“In fact, the commission received accolades from the party at the end of the day for conducting the most peaceful and credible. My point is that the internal peace of a political party matter,” he averred.
Ushie further disclosed that the commission would liaise with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to get updated voters to register and deploy the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System, BVAS technology, based on its efficacy.
He reiterated the resolve of the commission to conduct transparent, free, fair, and credible local government council elections next year.
S.O
