RELEASE OF ELECTORAL GUIDELINES

As a part of elightening the Parties, Candidates and general public, The Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission has released the guidelines for participating in the Forth Coming Local Government General elections in the state. The guidelines is a document that present the procedure of all activities of the election from candidates accreditation, clearance to issuance of victory certificates to eventual winners of the election. Details of the document is as given here....

AKISIEC is at the advanced stage of readiness to conduct the Local Government Elections that are presently on hold.

The following activities have been undertaken by the Commission in readiness for the exercise.

(1) Voters' registers for the 2986 polling units in respect of the 329 electoral wards for the 31 Local Government Areas of the State have been received from INEC.

(2). Adequate number of Ballot boxes have been acquired.

(3) Ballot papers and other sensitive election forms have been printed and delivered to the Commission.

(4) Other non-Sensitive election materials have also procurred

(5) Six pick-up vans and a light truck have been Commission to enhance effective transportation.

(6) 41 Thuraya phones have been acquired and distributed to Electoral Commissioners and Electoral Officers for the purpose of effective communication during the elections.

(7) Meetings have been held with leaders of political parties and candidates to acquaint them with guidelines and election procedure.

(8) Notice of Local Government General Election was issued in accordance with the Electoral Act 2002.

(9) Local Government Election Guidelines have been issued to Political Parties.

(10) Eight political parties responded and presented to the Commission 115 Chairmanship Candidates and 1069 Councillorship Candidates for the Local Government ELECTIONS.

(11) AKISIEC verified and processed the nomination forms of candidates presented by the political parties. The names of candidates duly nominated by their political parties to contest the Local Government Election 2003 were published in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2002.

(12) Public officials who applied to serve in various polling duties have been trained for deployment as ad-hoc staff during the local government elections.

(13) Arrangements have been made to ensure security and peaceful conduct of the elections.

(14) The Commission has produced Election Manual for use by all categories of personnel on election duties.

(15) Logistics plan has been put in place for movement of personnel and supply of election materials to polling units and collation centres.

AKISIEC’ 2003