National Telescope national telescope newspaper
Akwa Ibom state governor, Pastor Umo Eno has assented to the Independent National Electoral Commission Law cap 69 bill, recently passed by the state House of Assembly.
With the amendment, the INEC will update the electoral laws in the state.
It will also enhance efficiency in the electoral process at the grassroots, provide legal backings and align the activities of the Akwa Ibom state Independent Electoral Commision, AKISIEC in the conduct of local government elections.
By this development, AKISIEC is expected to come up with a Programm of activities that will culminate in the conduct of local government elections in the state.
In a telephone interview , a PDP chieftain in the state , ESV Kufre Ufot described the development as a milestone in the state’s democratic experience.
According to him, the law will not only enhance efficiency in the electoral process at the grassroots, but strengthen and beautify democracy at the local government levels.
On the contrary, a former state organizing secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Obong Bassey Eshiet said nothing democratic can come from the state owned electoral umpire.
According to him, as long as local government elections are conducted by AKISIEC, which is hired and fired by the state government, nothing free and fair can be obtained.
The only way to strengthen democracy and ensure free and fair local government and other elections at the grassroots is for the National Assembly to enact a law that will banish the AKISIEC and empower the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct local government elections”
