The rumour of a possible dissolution of the state owned Akwa Ibom Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) and subsequent postponement of the Akwa Ibom State local government election has put candidates in the forthcoming local government election on their toes.
Bearing any last minute changes in the current political arrangements midwifed by the National Assembly, the much awaited October 5 Council poll in Akwa Ibom is not likely to hold as planned, according to the rumour.
Investigations conducted by our correspondent revealed that the National Assembly is working on a legislation to abolish states’ electoral commissions from conducting local council elections in line with the new local government autonomy.
According to sources, the 10th National Assembly is bent on ensuring that the new local government autonomy law is carried out to the later.
To this end, it was gathered that the National Assembly is working on a legislation to establish the national/state independent electoral commission, which will function independently without the interference and control of state governments, as was the case in states with the Independent Electoral Commission (-SIEC), which is completely controlled by state governors to the detriment of opposition parties in the states.
Our findings further revealed that if the new arrangement sails through, the present council transition helmsmen may have their tenure extended, a development that does not go well with the electioneering projects and budgets of the candidates.
Recall that the AKISIEC recently concluded plans to conduct council election come October 5, and it is learnt that necessary financial appropriation was made for the exercise, but with the new bill, if passed into law, the timetable might be altered.
