BY AHMED TUKUR, LAFIA – Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has assured that his administration will provide the State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC), with the necessary tools to enable it conduct the upcoming Local Government election in the state.
Sule, who gave the assurance while being presented with the report of the Gangaren Tudu electoral ward bye-election in Keffi Local Government Area by the NASIEC Chairman, Mr. Ayuba Usman Wandai at the Government House, on Thursday, said that as the commission is preparing towards the conduct of the local government election, it will require all necessary tools to carry out the exercise in line with its mandate.
While noting that his administration is looking forward to the conduct of the LG poll, which he described as most challenging, Governor Sule assured that government will do everything possible to ensure fairness for all concerned.
Commenting on the challenges being faced by the NASIEC, Governor Sule assured that government will address some of these challenges, especially that of a vehicle for the use of the chairman, which will be resolved in a matter of days.
He commended the NASIEC Chairman, for successfully conducting the bye-election in Gangaren Tudu, in spite of the prevailing challenges just as he expressed joy that weeks after the bye-election, no single petition was filed challenging the exercise.
Sule said; “I want to commend you. I know you are going through lots of other challenges, lack of vehicles, lack of other materials, yet you have continued with the work.
“You have proven that indeed, we did not make the wrong choice in making you the chairman”.
Earlier, the NASIEC Chairman, Mr. Ayuba Usman Wandai, told Governor Sule that the commission, in line with its mandate, successfully conducted the November 14, bye-election in Gangaren Tudu electoral ward, in Keffi Local Government Area, in which two political parties namely the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) participated.
He noted that in spite of the challenges associated with inadequate funding, skyrocketing price of election materials due to inflation and inability of voters to comply with COVID-19 protocols, the exercise was generally successful.
He said; “But for the prudence of the commission, the approved funds was managed efficiently and the election was conducted smoothly,” he explained.
The commission recommended that in future elections, there should be adequate sensitization for voters on the need to observe all COVID-19 protocols.
