The Katsina State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) has confirmed preparedness to conduct a free, fair and credible poll local government elections in the state.
The elections scheduled for Saturday 15, February have only five political parties which include, the Accord Party, Booth Party, African Action Congress, African Democratic Congress and the All Progressive Congress APC, participating.
The Peoples Democratic Party PDP, and 85 other parties have resolved not to participate for reasons best known to them.
Alhaji Lawal Faskari, the state chairman of the state electoral commission on Tuesday, disclosed this during a Press conference held at the commission’s headquarters in Katsina.
Faskari said towards ensuring the success of the exercise, 20,000 ad-hoc staff have been recruited and trained to facilitate the electoral processes across the 34 LGAs of the state.
According to him, all sensitive materials would be distributed to all the councils on the eve of the elections.
The commission’s boss expressed appreciation to the stakeholders, and the security agencies for their unwavering support to ensure a hitch free exercise, as well as a conducive environment for the exercise to succeed.
Faskari however reminded all participating political parties to comply with the campaigns schedules, 24 hours before the election, in line with the provisions of the electoral act 2022 as amended.
Efforts made by our correspondent in Katsina to get the reactions of other non participating parties proved abortive, especially, the main opposition party, the PDP, as several phone calls made to some of the state executives are not replied.
(Independent)
