Sokoto LG elections to hold January, 9
The Sokoto State Independent Electoral Commission has announced January, 9, 2016, for conduct of local government election.
Briefing newsmen, the SIEC Chairman, Alhaji Usman Abubakar, said 29 political parties may participate in the election.
He said the state government had already released funds for the exercise, assuring that the commission would ensure a level-playing field for all parties.
“We have this record of conducting free and fair election in the state. I remember that during the last local government election, there was no complaint from any political party; they all accepted the results out of conviction that the election was credibly conducted. And if you can remember, there was a counsellor who was not from the ruling party but won his election,” he said.
The commission was not certain if card-readers would be used for the election, as according to the chairman, it was under probability.
According to the election timetable, the conduct of primaries by political parties and submission of parties’ candidates is between November 1 and 16 and nomination would end on November, 23.
Similarly, substitution of candidates is between December, 15 and 22, while campaigns by candidates would end January, 8, 2016. Abubakar assured the public that adequate security would be provided throughout the election period.
He appealed to political parties to desist from recruiting political thugs and making inciting comments during electioneering.