By Obansa Ibrahim Lokoja
The Kogi state Independent Electoral Commission, KOSIEC has fixed October 19th as the date for the local government Election across the state.
This followed the supreme Court judgement of last week which declared care taker committee running the affairs of local government areas in the country illegal.
Subsequently,the Federal government said the Allocation to these local government areas without elected officials will be witheld as the joint allocation account committee is no longer recognized under the law
Addressing the first stakeholders meeting in Lokoja on Tuesday the Chairman Mamman Eri said that the release of the date was in accordance with the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and the powers vested in the state Independent Electoral Commission.
He said that a comprehensive timetable an schedule of activities have been prepared to ensure transparent, fair and credible electoral process.
“We assure you that these activities have been designed with utmost consideration for inclusivity, transparency and adherence to electoral laws.
In the timetable made available,each candidate for counselorship Election is expected to make a deposit of N100,000 to the commission while 250,000 is to be deposited by the Chairmanship candidate.
Similarly, any one who has been dismissed from the public or civil service if the Federation or a state or local government area or from private employment are not qualified to contest for any of the positions.
Also , anyone who has been found guilty of an offence involving narcotic drugs or any other psychotropic substance by any court in Nigeria or tribunal in Nigeria or in any other country cannot view fo any of elective position in the Election.
Eri for the continued support and collaboration of stakeholders for the successful organization and completion of the local government Election in the state