The Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, ABSIEC, weekend, released timetable for the conduct of council poll in the state.
ABSIEC Chairman, Professor George Chima, who unveiled the timetable at the Commission’s headquarters, Ogurube Layout Umuahia, said the poll would hold on Saturday, November 2.
According to the timetable, party primaries will begin from September 25 and end October 4.
Submission of the list of candidates by political parties will begin from October 5 and end October 7.
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It indicated that screening of candidates by ABSIEC will hold between October 8 and October 10, while hearing of appeals/complaints by screening committee will come between October 11 and 12.
The timetable further gave October 14 to 15 as dates for substitution and screening of substituted candidates.
According to the timetable, final publication of lists of candidates will be done on October 16, while electioneering campaigns will come between October 18 and 31.
Addressing stakeholders during the unveiling ceremony attended by the Chairmen and Secretaries of 18 political parties, the ABSIEC boss assured that the commission would maintain neutrality in the discharge of its duty.
He said members of the commission placed high premium on the integrity of the poll, and would not engage in any act capable of questioning the integrity of the exercise.
“We have been set up to give free, fair and unpolluted election that will be accepted by Abians,” he assured.
He solicited the cooperation of the parties, urging them to comply with the timetable as the commission will insist on strict compliance.
Professor Chima told the parties to give the commission at least a three-day notice before the date of their primaries for monitoring.
Responding to questions by some of the representatives of political parties who complained that the commission did not give them enough time to prepare for the poll, the ABSIEC boss explained that the commission was trying to beat the three months deadline by the Federal Government to states to conduct council poll or their Council allocations would be withheld.
He apologized to the parties for the short notice but promised to carry them along.
