ANSIEC READY FOR AUGUST 29 LG POLL, INTRODUCES YES/NO BALLOT FOR SOLE CANDIDATE
By Ukpa Ewa
The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), has assured residents of its readiness to conduct the August 29 local government election in the state, announcing that a Yes/No ballot system will be used in areas where only one candidate is contesting.
The Commissioner in charge of Information and Publicity, Chief Tony Chinedu, disclosed this while briefing Journalists on August 26 in Awka, Anambra State.
Chinedu said a total of 22 mayoral candidates and 346 councillorship candidates are participating in the election. According to him, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has fielded 21 mayoral candidates, while the Young Progressives Party (YPP) has a candidate in Anambra East Local Government Area.
He explained that the Electoral Act empowers the Commission to adopt the Yes/No ballot system in areas where only one candidate is contesting.
The commissioner further explained that where the candidate fails to secure the required number of Yes votes, the election would be declared inconclusive and a fresh election conducted in the affected locality.
He said, “If a candidate fails to score the highest number of ‘Yes’ and also score two-thirds majority, the election would be declared inconclusive. If the ‘No’ ballots outweigh the ‘Yes’ ballots, the candidate will automatically step aside and wait for a fresh election in that locality.”
Chinedu assured that the Commission was fully prepared for the election, noting that ad hoc personnel had been trained and equipped for the exercise.
“ANSIEC is ready for Saturday. We have trained and equipped the ad hoc staff for the tasks ahead. We are going ahead with the election,” he said.
He added that the Commission had commenced the distribution of non-sensitive electoral materials to various locations ahead of the poll.
The election is scheduled to commence at 8:00 a.m., while the Commissioner urged eligible voters to come out en masse and exercise their franchise.
Ukpa Ewa is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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