Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission has slated the conduct of local government elections in the state for October 5.
According to the timetable released on Monday, chairmanship and councillorship elections would be conducted on the same day in the state's 326 electoral wards.
If the commission keeps faith with the date, it would be the first time in 14 years that local government elections would be conducted in the state.
The last local council polls were held in the state on December 5, 1998, during the administration of Wing Cmdr. Emmanuel Ukaegbu, who was the military administrator of the state.
The Acting Chairman of ANSIEC, Chief Sylvester Okonkwo, who met with leaders of registered political parties at the commission's headquarters in Awka on Monday, said the commission would conduct the election in accordance with Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution, Section 153/163 of the Local Government Law No 5 of Anambra State as well as Section 31 of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended.
But he said the electoral guidelines would be released on Monday next week.
He added that the commission would receive all duly completed forms filled by candidates fielded by the parties for the election on or before August 15.
He said previous attempts to conduct council polls by the commission in 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2010 were marred by technical inadequacies and violence, particularly in 2004.
The Punch