The Borno State Independent Electoral Commission (BOSIEC), is to conduct council elections in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps; over insecurity in four Local Government Areas.
The IDP camps, where elections into 27 council areas, slated for today (Saturday), are located in Maiduguri, Monguno and Dikwa, a border community with Cameroon.
The last council elections, was held in 2008 by Sen. Ali Modu.
While announcing voting centres for legible voters Friday in Maiduguri, BOSIEC’s Chairman, Alhaji Abdu Usman disclosed that; “The Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Abadam, Guzamala, Marte and Kukawa, are to conduct their elections in IDP camps,” noting that the affected LGAs are not conducive conduct elections.
He attributed it to insecurity to both electoral personnel and election materials in the four affected councils.
“Only eight wards in Kukawa council, are to conduct their elections in IDP camps,” he noted.
He assured that the commission has made adequate security arrangements with collaborative efforts of security agencies to maintain law and order in all the 312 wards.
He therefore, allay the fear of political parties that fielded 38 chairmanship candidates and 362 contestants for councilors.
While appealing electorates to come out en mass to exercise their franchise, he said: “You should vote for candidates of your choices without fear of intimidation or harassment,” warning that there should be no breach of peace at polls.
“We’re committed to conduct free, fair and credible polls,” he said.
According to him, six political parties, are participate in elections, including All Progressive Congress (APC), ruling party, All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Accord, Advanced Democratic Congress (ADC) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).
