By Onwa Ekor, Calabar
Following the recent inauguration of members of the Cross River Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC), a new breath of life has enveloped the conduct of the local government elections with the Cross River House of Assembly passing the 2024 amendment bill.
The passage of the amendment bill during a session of the House saw lawmakers deliberating extensively on the Principal Law while amending several sections in order to align with current realities and to streamline the electioneering process.
Among the amendment made were the revision of the campaign duration for local government elections which is now stipulated to be not less than 30 days and not more than 90 days.
Also Section 20 A(1) was looked at offering mandate in the new law for “all registered political parties intending to hold congresses or primaries for nominating candidates into any elective office in the Local Government Council to give the Commission at least 21 days’ notice in writing to attend and monitor such events.”
Additionally, Section 29 of the Principal Law was amended, stipulating that “a candidate for the office of Chairman shall be deemed duly elected if such a candidate is the only candidate nominated and has secured a majority of YES votes, with not less than one-third of the YES votes cast in at least two-thirds of all wards in the local government area.”
Accordingly, “If the only candidate fails to be elected under these conditions, a fresh nomination process shall be conducted,” the new law stipulates.
Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, during the session commended the lawmakers for their unwavering dedication to duty which led to the early passage of the Amendment Bill 2024.
He maintained that the amendment remains vital for speeding up the conduct of local government elections.
Ayambem argued that the revised law is also designed to check undue excesses while ensuring that elections are conducted fairly and transparently across all party lines.
In separate contributions, lawmakers applauded the governor, Prince Bassey Otu, for his passion aimed at conducting the local government elections, admitting that, the early passage of the Bill remains sacrosanct.
