The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) has warned candidates and their supporters to avoid personal attacks on opponents as electioneering for the state council poll gathers momentum.

ENSIEC executive chairman Christian Ngwu gave the warning in an interview on Friday in Enugu.

Mr Ngwu said electioneering campaigns ahead of the polls need not be acrimonious, volatile, or dogged by personal attacks, but rather peaceful, issue-based, and people-oriented.

He said that the commission expected a rancour-free campaign ahead of the September 26 local council polls.

“Go to the field and tell the people what you have for them and your plans to focus on issues that will better their lives and uplift them from inadequacies.

“We also want the electorate to ask political gladiators relevant questions on how they plan to carry out their campaign promises,” he said.

The chairman said that the commission was averse to personality and reputation attacks which often trigger political violence and bitter rancour.

“No one should heat up the polity with uncultured and abusive language that attacks individual candidates’ personalities.

“Let us do well to keep the campaigns civil and accommodating, making welfare of the people, who are the electorate, the main focus,” he said.

Candidates from 11 political parties will be participating in the polls for 17 chairmanship and 260 councillorship positions in the state.

ENSIEC recently concluded a two-day train-the-trainer workshop for its officials, including 17 electoral officers for each of the 17 council areas, 17 assistant electoral officers, seven directors, five commissioners, and an administrative secretary.

(NAN)