According to Ngwu, the shift in date was in compliance with the court’s ruling in suit No. E/608m/2024 Aninri LG & 16 Ors v. ENSIEC, issued on August 27, 2024.
The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) has announced the change of date for the state local government and councillorship elections earlier scheduled for October 5.
The elections have now been shifted to September 21, 2024.
In a public announcement issued on Wednesday evening, the Chairman of the commission, Prof. Christian Ngwu, said the date for the local government and councillorship elections has been brought forward to September 21, 2024.
According to Ngwu, the shift in date was in compliance with the court’s ruling in suit No. E/608m/2024 Aninri LG & 16 Ors v. ENSIEC, issued on August 27, 2024.
Ngwu said in response to the court’s directive, “the Commission is amending the activities and timetable for the Local Government Councils Elections in Enugu State”.
Titled: “Public Notice announcing the Chairmanship and Councillorship Elections in all the Local Government Councils in Enugu State,” the new timetable reads: “3rd-14th June, 2024 call for political parties to submit information on conduct of party primaries specifying the time, venue and say of party primaries.
“1st – 19th August, 2024 Conduct of Party Primaries including resolution of disputes arising from the primaries.
“23rd – 27th August, 2024 Political Parties are to obtain nomination forms, ENSIEC 7 and Councillorship election respectively on 23rd – 27th.
“August, 2024. 28th -30th August, 2024 List of candidates nominated by political parties shall be forwarded to the headquarters of Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission, No. 3 Achi Street, Independence Layout, Enugu.
“31st August -6th September, 2024 Checking of candidates credentials, councillorship candidates shall be checked at various Local Government Headquarters while Chairmanship candidates shall be checked at Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission, No. 3 Achi Street, Independence Layout, Enugu.
“9th -10th September, 2024 return of lists of qualified and unqualified candidates on forms ENSIEC 3 and ENSIEC 4 for Chairmanship and Councillorship elections respectively to political parties.
“11th – 12th September, 2024 a replacement of unqualified candidates by the affected political parties. b. Names of two party agents with passport photographs attached to each polling unit shall be forwarded to Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission, No. 3 Achi Street, Independence Layout, Enugu by political parties. Parties shall endorse the passport photographs.
“7th – 20th September, 2024 Campaign kickoff- Candidates and their parties shall campaign for the election is such a manner and in accordance with such guidelines as may be determined, from time to time, by the Commission.
“Campaign shall end by 6pm of 19th September, 21st September 2024 Voters’ accreditation and voting by Open Secret Ballot System in the hours of 8. 00am and 3. 00pm.
“28th September, 2024 Chairmanship and/or Councillorship run-off election if need be.”