The Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) says eight political parties will participate in the October 5 local government election.

BSIEC’s chairman, Richard Tombowua, announced this on Thursday when he addressed journalists in his office in Makurdi.

Mr Tombowua said BSIEC had started preparations for the local government election to ensure a smooth exercise. He said that 14 parties indicated interest to contest in the election, but only eight parties fielded candidates.

According to him, the eight parties are the African Action Congress (AAC), All Progressives Congress (APC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Labour Party (LP). Others are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

He said the House of Assembly recently approved the budget for the conduct of the election, and the money had been released to the commission.

Mr Tombowua said that 21 vehicles had been bought, and sensitive and non-sensitive materials had also been paid for.

“The commission has awarded contract for the production of sensitive and non-sensitive materials, and some of those materials have been received. 

“There are pending programmes that would start from September 21 to October 5, which is the day of the election, and arrangements have been made for training of ad hoc staff, starting from September 26,” he said.

The Benue parliament on September 4 approved N6.64 billion for the elections. 

(NAN)