By Shuaibu Usman
Barely a fortnight to the conduct of local councils polls in the state, the electoral umpire, Monday, said nine political parties have shown interest in the election with the submission of their nominations to take part in the electoral process.
Chairman of the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC), Barr. Ayuba Wandai Usman, said this in Lafia during an interactive session with staff of the Commission and journalists.
Barr. Usman noted that the staff are to better the electoral process by ensuring credible and acceptable polls that would be attested to as free and fair, enjoining them to be steadfast in carrying out the onerous task.
The NASIEC Boss charged political parties to play by the rules in exhibiting decency and working in accordance with the established code of conduct.
He added that technology would be deployed in the elections to facilitate swift and efficient voting process, tasking them to use them effectively to achieve the purpose they were meant for.
He said electoral materials would be provided fourty eight hours to the election date, adding that with the portal created for the recruitment of ad-hoc staff for the polls over five thousand applicants had sent their applications in less than twenty four hours.
Commenting on the submission of candidates, the electoral umpire czar said substitution of candidates can only be done for cogent reasons such as withdrawal of candidates, maintaining that NGOs and CSOs would be engaged to make the elections inclusive and most credible in the history of the electoral body.
According to him, ten thousand ad-hoc staff are expected to be employed for the November 2 election, insisting that their stipends would be paid directly from the Commission to prevent avoidable challenges.