Four days before the October 5, 2024 local government elections in Akwa Ibom State, a civil society organisation, Centre for Human Rights Accountability Network, CHRAN, has extracted commitments from the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission, AKISIEC, security agencies as well as other relevant stakeholders for a peaceful, credible, free and fair elections in the state.
This was done at the CHRAN Secretariat in Uyo during a critical stakeholders’ engagement tagged “Towards a Free, Fair and Credible 2024 Local Government Election in Akwa Ibom State,” organised in collaboration with AKISIEC.
CHRAN director, Otuekong Franklyn I song, said the essence of the event was for the CSO to take active part in the process of good governance by bringing all the relevant stakeholders together on a table including the 12 political parties that would take part in the elections.
He said there was need for good governance at the grassroots especially now the Federal government has granted financial autonomy to them urging the people to ensure they go for credible candidates and AKISIEC as well should be fair to all parties.
His words: “As CSO, we are concerned about the process of good governance, that is why we are bringing all the stakeholders, security agencies and the 12 political parties to a round table.
“Of course, more funds will be given to local government chairmen following financial autonomy granted by president Bola Tinubu and the Attorney general, that is why you see even commissioners resigning to vie for local government seats because more funds are coming. We need to put more attention to local government so that pressure on the state will be reduced.”
Chairman on the occasion, Usenobong Akpabio, in an interview said until there is electoral independence at the local level, financial autonomy may not be totally whole noting that the forthcoming election in the state will still be business as usual.
“I see this election as normal and usual. The state is equipping its party, PDP for the election and other opposition parties are just there. I believe that someday we are going to have electoral body that is state based. Once there is electoral autonomy, everything will be okay, people should start holding their local government chairmen accountable, ” he said.
Oh her part, Obonganwan Dora Ebong, commissioner representing Akwa Ibom at the Federal Character Commission urged the electorates to look out for good candidates and not the political party they belong stressing that anyone whose ambition infringes on other people’s toes and sensibility was just for just there for his personal and selfish gain.
She noted that the peace of Akwa Ibom heavily lies on AKISIEC and urged them not to take it for granted and do the right thing.
She said: “The peace of this state is in the hands of AKISIEC, they should do the right thing, not when you stay in your polling unit till evening and you don’t see even a single ballot paper and little time you heard them announce result.”
Responding, the representatives of AKISIEC Chairman, Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak, promised a fair playing field for all parties and urged all the candidates to intensify their campaigns within the stipulated time
“All the political parties will be given a fair playing field but it’s incumbent on the parties and candidates to do their campaigns from now till 3rd of October. By 5th, we have our elections.”
Meanwhile the CHRAN Chairman said the peace accord would be signed at AKISIEC office when all the 12 political parties and their candidates would be present.