KWASIEC, security agencies assure hitch-free poll as Kwara holds LG election 5 years after dissolving councils
By Dele Moses, Ilorin
Elections will this Saturday be held into the 16 chairmanship seats and 193 councillor’s offices of the local government councils of Kwara State five years after the democratically constituted governments at the councils were dissolved.
The governments at the 16 councils were dissolved and replaced with caretaker governments since 2019 shortly after Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq assumed office.
While the installation of caretaker governments in the councils attracted criticism in some quarters and was pronounced unconstitutional by the court, the new electoral umpires which the state government inaugurated at the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) recently fixed the local government election for September 21.
Chairman of the KWASIEC, Mohammed Baba-Okanla, said the commission has made adequate arrangement for the success of the election in all the 16 councils across the state.
He said that five parties namely, All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Movement (APM), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Accord Party (AP) were participating in the election.
“I am pleased to announce that the commission has carefully crafted a comprehensive time table for the forthcoming local government elections to ensure that all stakeholders are adequately prepared for the electoral process.
“The local government elections are scheduled to take place on 21st September, 2024. Polling units will open by 8.00am and voting will be concluded by 3.00pm after which sorting, counting and collation of results will begin immediately. Announcement of results will be collated at the designated collation centres and announced after counting is concluded,” he said in an interaction with reporters.
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Meanwhile security agencies in the state have disclosed their preparedness to provide adequate security for the peaceful conduct of the election.
The state commissioner of police, Victor Olaiya, made the disclosure after his Command held a strategic meeting yesterday with heads of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Airforce, Nigerian Navy, DSS, NSCDC, FRSC, Customs, Immigration Service, NCoS, NDLEA and the Federal Fire Service in the state.
A statement issued by spokesperson of the Command, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the meeting discussed coordinated efforts to maintain law and order before, during and after the election.
“This collaboration underscores the commitment of all security agencies to safeguard the process and ensure that the election is free from violence or intimidation of any form.
“Residents are encouraged to exercise their civic duty with confidence, knowing that their safety is top priority. The combined forces of these agencies will be deployed across the state to ensure that lives and property are protected throughout the election period.
“We appeal to the good people of Kwara to remain calm, law-abiding, and cooperate fully with security personnels on duty.
“The Kwara State Command will continue to work tirelessly with sister agencies to guarantee a secure environment for all, and we trust that the election will be a success, ” the statement reads.
Officers of the customs service deployed for the election assignment have however been charged to remain apolitical and shunned bribery in their assignment.
The Customs Area Controller, Kwara Area Command, Compt. Faith Ojeifo, made the charge while addressing the officers.
Ojeifo urged the officers deployed for the election to remain apolitical.
A statement by the spokesman of the Command, Zakari Chado, said Ojeifo advised the officers to be neutral and exhibit professionalism before, during and after the election.
The statement said Ojeifo, while noting that the major responsibility of the service was to observe and complement the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies deployed for the assignment, asked officers to be responsible, deligent and peaceful.
