By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Chairman of the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC), Mr. Collins Agbo, has assured political parties and stakeholders that the forthcoming local government election in the state will be free, fair and credible.

Agbo gave the assurance on Thursday during the EBSIEC Stakeholders’ Engagement Meeting held in Abakaliki ahead of the August 22, 2026 local government elections.

He called on political parties, candidates and other stakeholders to cooperate with the commission to ensure a peaceful and transparent electoral process.

The EBSIEC chairman commended Governor Francis Nwifuru for providing the commission with the necessary support and independence to carry out its constitutional mandate, expressing confidence that Ebonyi would set a benchmark for credible local government elections in Nigeria.

Speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner for Logistics and Field Operations, Mr. Hyacinth Nwoba, disclosed that all election materials had been procured and will be distributed for use across the state's 171 electoral wards and 2,947 polling units of the 13 LGAs.

He described logistics as the backbone of every successful election, assuring stakeholders that adequate arrangements had been made for the smooth conduct of the exercise.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Legal and Security, Barrister Sunday Odunwa, warned against voter intimidation, violence and other electoral offences, stressing that the commission would not tolerate acts capable of undermining the credibility of the election.

He urged political parties to conduct their campaigns peacefully and advised members of the public to promptly report cases of harassment, intimidation or violence to security agencies.

Odunwa further reminded political parties and supporters that wearing clothes bearing party insignia 24 hours before the election is prohibited under the law, warning that violators would be arrested and prosecuted.

The Commissioner for Administration and General Services, Mr. Irem Okechukwu, assured stakeholders that EBSIEC officials would remain neutral and uphold the rule of law throughout the electoral process.

Similarly, the Commissioner for Finance and Accounts, Dr. Emmanuel Ibiam, said the commission had provided all the financial and logistical resources required for a successful election, urging political parties to cooperate with electoral officials.

On his part, the Commissioner for Planning and Statistics, Mr. Nwanja Uchenna, assured that election officials would be deployed to all 171 wards and the 2,947 polling units across the state to ensure that no eligible voter was denied the opportunity to vote.

He added that EBSIEC officials would be at polling units from 7:00 a.m. on election day and pledged that the commission would provide timely, accurate and transparent information throughout the exercise.

Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dr. Jennifer Adibe-Nwafor, appealed to EBSIEC to announce election results promptly after voting and collation, expressing confidence that political parties would accept credible outcomes.

Also, the Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) in Ebonyi State, Comrade Friday Nwovu, called on the electoral commission to ensure the inclusion and active participation of persons with disabilities in the council election.

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