DA wants level playing field in Edo council election
NAN-H-3
Election
Igbaugba Ehigimetor
Benin, Jan. 17, 2018 (NAN) The Democratic Alliance (DA) has urged the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) to provide a level playing field for all political parties during the March 3 council election in the state.
The Chairman of DA in the state, Mr Frank Ukonga, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Benin.
Ukonga said the call had become necessary in view of the recent conducts of some State Independent Electoral Commission (SIECs) during local government polls.
He said that EDSIEC should not only be seen to be independent but should act as such by being neutral to all political parties and their candidates in its conduct of the election.
“We want to believe that EDSIEC will not tow the line of other SIECs, in its conduct of the forthcoming local government election.
“While appeal for all the parties and their candidate to be given a level playing field to test their popularity.
“We also want the people to be given the free will to elect their choice candidates.
“Local government elections should not be seen as that of winner takes all or a competition in which the ruling party must win all the chairmanship and councillorship seats,” Ukonga said.
He said though the time frame given the parties publish their candidates was short, he remained optimistic that his party’s candidates would be the ones to beat in the poll.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the EDSIEC on Friday released the election time table.
The state electoral umpire also met with stakeholders, including the political parties and informed them about the modalities and guideline for the poll.
Since the expiration of the tenure of chairmen and councilors in the state in April 2016, the councils had been manned by Heads of Service (HOS). (NAN)
ESI/YMU/EMO
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Edited by Yakubu Uba/Ejike Obeta