By Onwukwe Ezeru, Umuahia
Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it was ready for the local government election.
This is despite complaints by opposition parties in Abia State on the short notice given by the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission for December 17th local government Election.
Other political parties in the state had in a meeting with the chairman of the state Electoral Commission, Justice I.A Akomas, rejected the date of the election and opted for an extension of time to enable the parties prepare.
Briefing newsmen in Umuahia, the Abia State chairman of the PDP, Chief Johnson Onuigbo said, “As a party, PDP is ready for the election. All materials for the election are ready and Option A4 would be used so that the popularity of the candidates in the 292 ABISIEC wards would be tested.”
The PDP chief said that the timetable for collection of forms, which started on September 26, 2016, was out.
“The collection of forms for the chairmanship candidates, councillorship and the three-man ad-hoc delegates will stop on the 10th of September, while screening of aspirants will start on Monday 3rd of October 2016. Ward congresses to elect councillorship candidates and the three-man ad-hoc delegates will be on Friday October 14th 2016. Local government chairmanship primaries Tuesday October 18th 2016 while Appeal panel sits from October 19th to 21st 2016”.
The chairman said, “the forms for the chairmanship candidates attracts N500,000.00 while that of councilors will cost N100,00.00. Women aspirants will not pay for the forms but the three-man ad-hoc delegates will pay N5,000.00.”
He said that the party has prepared a level playing ground for all candidates who wish to contest on the platform of the PDP.