The Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) held a stakeholders’ engagement on Friday with 17 political parties to prepare for the upcoming local government elections in the state.
The meeting, hosted at the KWSIEC headquarters in Ilorin, saw attendance from representatives of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Accord Party, Action Alliance, and 13 other political parties.
In his opening remarks, KWSIEC Chairman Okanla expressed gratitude for the parties’ participation and underscored the importance of violence-free campaigns and adherence to electoral rules. “I urge political parties to ensure massive mobilization and encourage Kwarans to come out en masse to vote for candidates of their choice. Please, political parties should conduct themselves properly and abide by the rules of the game,” he said.
Okanla announced that the commission would observe the political party primaries and requested that parties communicate the details of their primaries to the commission. He also mentioned that the opening of applications for adhoc officers for the elections would be publicized in national dailies, with only qualified candidates being considered.
The PDP Chairman in the state expressed gratitude for the engagement and pledged strict adherence to the election rules. “We appreciate the commission for this engagement and assure you that we will play by the rules. We have been expecting this meeting long ago,” he stated.
IPAC State Secretary Prince Oyedeji Adekunle appealed to all political parties, candidates, and their supporters to participate peacefully, emphasizing that voting should celebrate democracy rather than cause conflict. “I appeal to all political parties, candidates, and their supporters to engage in the process peacefully. Voting should be a celebration of democracy and not a cause of conflict,” he said.
APC Chairman Prince Sunday Fagbemi commended KWSIEC for its comprehensive timetable and requested electoral guidelines. “I commend the commission for putting in place a very comprehensive timetable. Any serious-minded party should already have a template to contest elections, and this engagement is just a convention. I request that the commission provide electoral guidelines,” he said.
The gathering also discussed the cost of nomination forms, with political parties advocating for a moderate amount in consideration of the current economic conditions in the country.