…as NASIEC Chairman charges staff on professional conduct
The Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC) has said that nine political parties have duly submitted the list of their candidates that will participate in the scheduled November 2, 2024 council polls.
Chairman of the NASIEC, Barrister Ayuba Usman Wandai disclosed this while addressing staff of the Commission at the conference hall of the Ministry for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs on Monday.
According to Barrister Wandai, at the close of nominations on October 18th, 2024, the Commission received the final list from 9 political parties whose primaries were monitored by the NASIEC in order to contest in the forthcoming elections.
He however warned political parties to note that the Commission has a final date for the substitution of candidates clearly indicated on its timeline of activities leading to the elections.
“We are calling on these political parties to note that we have a final day of substitution of candidates on our timeline of activities. This substitution must be done for cogent reasons and must also be accompanied by letters of withdrawals by those who have emerged through the various political party primaries,” he said.
The NASIEC Chairman further warned that the Commission will not entertain anything contrary to aforementioned regarding the substitution of candidates by political parties participating in the November 2 council polls.
“Nobody should come to the Commission trying to put us under unnecessary pressure to change any name without any cogent reasons and without candidates that have emerged through the various primaries monitored by the Commission first withdrawing from the contest,” he added.
Barrister Wandai said the meeting with all the staff of the Commission from across the state became necessary since the NASIEC has already issued a notice of election and also a timeline of activities leading to the November 2 polls.
“We have called this meeting to brainstorm, synergies, and also to unify members and staff of the Commission on the goal ahead. We have introduced a lot of innovations that will make us conduct credible and acceptable elections come November 2.
“We are not unmindful of the fact that we have some challenges, which we have done a lot to mitigate, and some we have even completely eliminated,” he stated.
He said the meeting was meant to provide an avenue for the members of staff of the NASIEC to be able to tell each other the truth.
“I want you in the course of this deliberation to be free, to be open-minded, and to tell ourselves the truth,” he added.
The Chairman thereafter, called on the NASIEC staff to remain steadfast and to discharge their responsibilities with every sense of commitment and professionalism.
“I want to call on all of you to be steadfast and ensure that we discharge our duties with the fear of God and with the commitment and professionalism that it deserves. As election managers, our job is a sacred one. We have a responsibility to conduct an election that is credible, fair, and acceptable to the people of Nasarawa State,” he said.
He also appealed to political parties taking part in the elections to conduct themselves peacefully and according to the laid down rules.
“We want all political parties to play according to the rules and be peaceful in their conduct, be peaceful in their campaigns, and also we urge our staff to play according to our rules. We have our rules. We have our guidelines, and we have our code of conduct. I urge all our staff to abide by this code of conduct,” he said.
Wandai added that under his watch, NASIEC is set to conduct a free, fair and acceptable November 2 election, warning that any staff found wanting in the discharge of his or her responsibility will be made to face the full wrath of the law.