Cross River promises hitch-free LG polls on Saturday

The Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) says it is ready to conduct a hitch-free and peaceful election across the 18 Local Government Areas of the State.

The commission’s Chairman, Dr Ekong Edet Bocco, made this known while addressing the media shortly after distributing sensitive materials for the November 2 local council election to the 18 local government areas of the state at the commission’s office in Calabar, Thursday.

He revealed that the 10 political parties participating in the election include APC, PDP, LP, ADP, YPP, APM, APP, SDP and ADC

Bocco said the commission has concluded training of all the ad-hoc staff deployed to the 3,281 polling units across the state to ensure a smooth election.

He said during the election, only registered voters with valid voter cards are expected to complete the accreditation process for the election which would start by 8:00 am and stop by 2:00 pm.

While displaying materials for the election which include the ballot papers and result sheets, he debunked rumours making the rounds that the commission has already completed results for the election in favour of a particular party.

“How can results be written in advance when all the materials for the election are still intact and yet to be distributed? I urge all voters to disregard such rumours and go out on Saturday to exercise their civic responsibility by voting for political parties and candidates of their choice in a very peaceful manner,” Bocco said.

“CROSIEC is committed to conduct a free, fair, and credible election that would be acceptable to all.”

The commission’s chairman also warned against illegal activities in and around polling units, stressing that actions including vote buying, underage voting, and bribing officials would not be tolerated.

On his part, the state chairman of the Interparty Advisory Council (IPAC) and chairman, Action People’s Party, Engr Effiom Edet Okon expressed confidence in the entire process leading up to the distribution of the sensitive materials for the election.