2 months ago
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The Chairman of Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission, Dr Ekong Boco, has announced that processes towards the conduct of local government elections in the state begin on Wednesday, September 25, 2024.
At a meeting with the leaderships of all the political parties in the state in his office on Wednesday, Boco announced that the conduct of party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from the primaries, commences as he was speaking, and should terminate on October 25, 2024.
“All the processes are to terminate on October 25, 2024, when all political campaigns should also end in all the LGAs of the state.
“On October 26, 2024, local government elections will be held in the state,” Boco announced.
He assured that all the registered political parties would be given a level playing field, advising, “Election is not war. We are going to conduct a rancour-free election. So we need a peaceful environment to achieve a credible and acceptable election in the state.”
All the political parties pledged their readiness to actively participate in the polls since it has been long overdue.
However, Peoples Democratic Party chairman, Venatius Ikem said they would have boycotted the election because of the hasty amendment of the law to conduct the election, the suddenness of the timetable and multiple adjustments of the goalposts to favour the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress.
“We’d rather participate in protest because to boycott is a language of defeat.”
Chairman of the Labour Party Caretaker Committee, John Ushie, and the Young Progressives Party’s Anthony Bissong stated that the local government elections were long overdue, announcing that they are ready.
Governor Bassey Otu assented to the amended Cross River Electoral Law passed by the State House of Assembly, which stipulated a four-year tenure for elected local government officials.
