Gov. Ben Ayade
By Dianabasi Effiong, Calabar
The Cross River State Independent National Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) says it will conduct a fair and credible Local Government elections on June 17 in the state.
Chairman of the Commission, Dr Mike Ushie, gave the date on Thursday when he addressed journalists, political parties and other stakeholders in Calabar.
Ushie also said the Commission would not engage adhoc staff in the conduct of the elections.
He said that CROSIEC would not print ballot papers with 50 political parties adding that political parties that would be reflected on the ballot papers would be those that would be participating in the elections.
“This election will be one man, one vote. We will ensure there is no ballot box snatching. We call for support of stakeholders to conduct a credible election. All election observers have to be duly accredited,” he said.
He also reacted to concerns raised by some political parties that since a case involving the local government election was in court and that going ahead with the election may amount to contemptsaying that CROSIEC was not a party in the matter.
“This is democracy. Everyone is fee to air their views. As far as CROSIEC is concerned, we are not a party to it. There is no order stopping the elections. Don’t stay in Calabar and look for technicalities.
“Political parties should go back and do their work to win their elections. CROSIEC will not change any result. If you want to go and sleep in court, you can go and sleep. Election would go on,” he said.
But the Chief Judge of Cross River, Justice Okoi Itam, had in a ruling in a High Court in Calabar, issued an injunction restraining Gov. Ben Ayade and the State Government from appointing Caretaker Committees to run the affairs of councils.
admin
