The Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission (ADSIEC) has postponed the December 4 local government councils poll indefinitely due to a lack of funds.

ADSIEC Information Officer, Innocent Daniel, said on Monday that the commission was awaiting funds from the government to conduct a free, fair and transparent election.

“Among the major challenges that led to the postponement of the election was the meagre allocation to the commission in the state’s 2021 budget.

“The allocation is too meagre for the commission to organise and conduct the election.

“Also, the re-usable election materials such as ballot boxes, duty vests, bags and kits were completely vandalised during the #Endsars protest,” he said.

The information officer said that the commission was also faced with the problem of handling the new polling units that were converted from voting points by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He said that the conversion had raised the polling units in the state from 2,609 to 4,104.

“This development will lead to an increase in facilities and ad hoc staff. The ongoing registration of new voters will also have a resultant increase in ballot paper requirements.

“It is in this regard that the preparations for the local government council election for December 4, is hereby suspended to give the government time to source for funds,” Mr Daniel said.

(NAN)