By Amos Aar
THE Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) says the forthcoming local government elections in the state earlier scheduled to hold on May 7th, 2022 have been rescheduled back to 30th April, 2022.
The Chairman of BSIEC, Dr Tersoo Loko, announced this on Monday in Makurdi while briefing newsmen on the activities of the Commission toward the conduct of the polls.
Dr Loko explained that May 7th clashes with the general timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and will hinder preparations for the two elections.
He cited section 95 of the state electoral (Amended) 2012 law to back the change, stating that the law gives BSIEC the power to adjust its timetable in the process for election of leaders at the third tier of government.
The disputed the argument in some quarters that the sudden change of timetable would affect preparations by the participating political parties because of inadequacy of the time the parties needed to mobilise their members for the electoral contests.
While presenting the new timetable on the activities mostly affected, Dr Loko regretted the inconvenience the change in date might cause the electorate and other critical stakeholders.
The activities include submission of names of polling agents by political parties on Monday, April 25th, 2022 from 9am to 4pm, and the termination of campaign on Thursday, April 28th, 2022 by 12 midnight.
Other activities announced by Dr Loko include election and declaration of results, Saturday, April 30th, 2022, publication of results, Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022, re-run election if any, Thursday May 5th, 2022 and issuance of certificates of return, Friday, May 6th, 2022.
