Following the announcement by the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) that the local council elections would be held on November 2, 2024, the 19 political parties in the state have demanded that the state government should fund them for the council elections.

They made this demand when the Chairman of the ABSIEC, Prof. George Chima, met with Chairmen and Secretaries of political parties in the state on Saturday, considering the short notice for the election, which may not allow the political parties enough time to mobilise enough funds and other things needed for the polls.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) was reportedly absent from the meeting held at the ABSIEC Office at Umuahia, the state capital. The party members in attendance, including members of the state Inter-Party Advisory Council led by its Chairman, Uluocha Chimex, of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), complained of the sudden announcement of the elections, stating that this scenario would not be ideal for the conduct of the desired council polls.

They urged the ABSIEC to prevail on Governor Alex Otti to release funds to political parties to enable them to participate in the election within the short time frame.

According to the ABSIEC Chairman, the Commission will, in line with its statutory powers, conduct elections of council chairmen and 184 ward councillors of the 17 councils of the state.

While addressing the meeting, Chima said that the essence of the meeting was to unveil the election calendar and assure the political parties of the Commission’s desire and determination to ensure that the right things are done.

MEANWHILE, the Interparty Advisory Council (IPAC), Enugu State, yesterday, commended Saturday’s local council elections in the state, describing the exercise as free, fair, credible, and peaceful. IPAC also commended what it described as a high voter turnout.

In a statement signed by its state Chairman, Obioma Nnamani, and Secretary, Dr. Afam Ani, in Enugu, they commended the non-political interference in the conduct of the election, urging winners and losers to work together for the betterment of the state.

“In consonance with our objective to promote and stimulate peaceful, free, fair, credible and transparent elections by the law, IPAC deployed observers across the 17 local council areas to monitor the September 21, 2024 local government election in Enugu.

“IPAC’s preliminary report shows that there was no known issue of electoral violence, as the exercise was peaceful.”