The Nasarawa government says it plans to conduct an election for chairpersons and councillors of the 13 local government councils on August 31.

Ayuba Wandai, the Nasarawa Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC) chair, said this at a stakeholders’ meeting with officials of the state Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on Tuesday in Lafia.

Mr Wandai said the current chairpersons and councillors were elected on October 6, 2021, and inaugurated on October 8, 2021, for a three-year tenure ending on October 7.

“This is our second engagement. The first was in August 2023, in line with the law establishing the commission. The law has given them the mandate to begin preparation for election one year before the expiration of the tenure of the officials.

“The commission is a law-abiding institution that has continued to promote the adherence to the laws governing the conduct of LGs election in the state,” he added.

The commission’s chairman said that political parties were expected to conduct their primaries from January 3 to February 24 to select their candidates for the election.

He said political parties must submit their candidates’ list on or before Tuesday, February 27. Mr Wandai also said sales of nomination forms would start on February 28, and end on March 11, and the candidates would be screened from March 13 to 15.

He said that based on the timetable, electioneering campaigns would commence on April 3 and end on August 30.

Cletus Ogah, the state IPAC chair, commended the commission for early preparation in compliance with the law.

He expressed confidence that, based on the preparation on the ground, the electoral body would conduct the free, fair and transparent election.

Mr Ogah pledged IPAC support for the commission to enable it to succeed in the conduct of the election.

(NAN)