A ballot box filled with ballot is pictured before being counted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at a polling station in Yenagoa, in Nigeria's Bayelsa State, on April 16, 2011, after Nigeria's crucial presidential election and a bid by Africa's most populous country to hold its cleanest polls for head of state since the end of military rule. AFP PHOTO / PIUS UTOMI EKPEI
The commissioner II Kebbi State independent electoral commission (KSEIC) Muhammad Kabiru Yakaji has said that, the electoral body in the State is set for 0ctober the 26th 2019 local governments elections.
Yakaji who exclusively spoke to The NEWNARRATIVE added that both sensitive and non sensitive materials needed for the elections are already on ground and logistics have been taken care of for the safe conduct of the local governments polls in Kebbi State.
On whether the state electoral body is fully independent of interference from the State government, he said contrary to what people think or are saying, the state electoral umpire is controlled by the government his words “we cannot stop people from saying what they wants to say but I can assure you that government don’t dictate to us,we are operating independently as our name indicated he disclosed.
To buttress his point yakaji said the state electoral body under them set a record of seven elected councilors from the opposition peoples democratic party (PDP),the councilors according to him won and were declared winners,he explained that this time around even if a chairman from the opposition wins the electoral body will declare him winner.
He regretted that while the commission awaits winners to be declared opposition parties sits at home without campaigning they instead resort to lamentations which leads them to self defeat,he urged them to campaign vigorously because the commission will do justice to all the participating parties.
He denied receiving any assistance from the state government except that which has already been specified by the constitution, he assured the electorates of their security during the conduct of the elections.
