C/River postpones LGA elections scheduled for June 17

The Cross River State government has finally postponed local governments elections in the state slated for June 17, 2017.

The electoral body, the State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) put the reason for the postponement to subsisting court order by the state High Court, Calabar restraining the commission from continuing the process in view of the on-going INEC continuous voter’s registration exercise which commences on April 21-July 25, 2017.

The commission had earlier put forward amongst others reasons for not conducting the elections on lack of resources, and internal party wrangling.

The three major parties, People Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressive Congress (APC) and Labour Party (LP) have not been able to set the ball rolling.

There are confusions in virtually all the parties as they have not been able to conduct primary or produce candidates for the elections.

Cross River State governor, Prof Ben Ayade, it was gathered was not keen on conducting the elections as he was comfortable with the present head of administration.

Late Justice Okoi Ikpi Itam had thrown out a suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to stop the governor from appointing caretaker committees.

Justice Itam had ruled that the present leadership of the 18 local government areas headed by the Heads of Local Government Administration (HOLGAs) were already acting in that capacity.

The CROSIEC Chairman, Mike Ushie had issued a statement saying that the suspension of the local government elections was pertinent not only because of the court order but concerns raised during the commission’s stakeholders meeting across the state on the fate of those who attained the voting age and are awaiting registration.

He stated that as a law abiding and listening commission, there is need to accommodate all eligible voters for participatory, free, fair, transparent and credible local government election in the state.

While regretting inconveniencies caused by the suspension, the commission said it does not in any way invalidate the electoral process.

The commission therefore said a review time table which will commence with the submission of list of candidates and personal particulars of candidates to the date of election will be made available on completion of the exercise or resolution of legal issues associated with the order.

Before now, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had cancelled the sale of intent and nomination forms with a prospective contestant complaining that; after turning us around, making us spend money for consultation and other things, we were told the governor has ordered a stop to the selling of intent and nomination forms that elections will not hold at the date announced.