Grapevine

Abia unveils election timetable amidst party concerns

During a meeting involving the 19 political parties in the state, along with security personnel, State House of Assembly members, and other observers, the Chairman of ABSIEC, Prof. George N. Chima, outlined the timetable as follows: Notice of Election (Saturday, September 21, 2024), Political Party Primaries (Wednesday, September 25, 2024 – Friday, October 4, 2024), Submission of List of Candidates by Political Parties (Saturday, October 5, 2024 – Monday, October 7, 2024), Screening of Candidates by ABSIEC (Tuesday, October 8, 2024 – Thursday, October 10, 2024).

Hearing of Appeals/Complaints by the Appeals Screening Committee (Friday, October 11, 2024 – Saturday, October 12, 2024), Substitution and Screening of Substituted Candidates (Monday, October 14, 2024 – Tuesday, October 15, 2024), Final Publication of List of Candidates (Wednesday, October 16, 2024), Electioneering Campaigns (Friday, October 18, 2024 – Thursday, October 31, 2024), Notice of Polls (Friday, October 18, 2024), and Local Government Election Date (Saturday, November 2, 2024).

Addressing the parties, the ABSIEC Chairman stated, “We all understand the importance of a democratic system of governance in local government, as it is where the greater number of the governed reside. Proper attention should be paid to ensuring a credible system of electing its operators.”

“The essence of this meeting is to assure you of the commission’s true desire and determination to ensure that the right things are done rightly. In the past, there has been apprehension regarding the impartiality of the umpires in this onerous responsibility, but our commitment to ushering in true democratic principles remains pivotal.”

“The present commission comprises men and women of integrity and outstanding pedigree, committed to changing the narrative. Our assurance to you is that the elections for our various local government councils in 2024 will no longer be business as usual. The commission is highly determined to ensure the elections are free, fair, and credible.”