The Chairman, Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), Barr Richard Terlumum Tombowua, has said that nothing will stop the Commission from conducting the Local Government (LG) election scheduled to hold on the 5th of October, 2024, except God.

The Commission Chairman who disclosed this while briefing newsmen on activities of the Commission ahead of the polls in Makurdi on Thursday said that only eight political parties would take part in the polls.

Tombowua, further explained that he derives the power to go ahead and conduct the election, even if anyone attempts to procure an injunction from the Courts, based on the recent amendment of the Benue State Electoral Law.

According to him, ?There is nothing that will stop this election, aside from God because the latest amendment to the Electoral Law has prohibited Court interference from any activity leading to this our election.

?So whether you go to court, and you have an injunction or not it will not stop us from conducting this election going by the latest Benue State LG amended law.

?And the date of election still stands for the 5th day of October, 2024, and I want to assure you that God willing on our part, we are ready to conduct free, fair and credible elections, to the best of our ability.

He further noted that ?Initially, 14 political parties indicated interest in contesting the election but at the end of the day eight political parties indicated interest to participate in the election. These political parties fielded candidates which was submitted to the Commission.

?The names of the political parties that are going to participate in the election are African Action Congress (AAC); All Progressives Congress (APC); All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); Labour Party (LP); Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Social Democratic Party (SDP); New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

?These are the political parties that fielded candidates that are going to participate in the October 5th, 2024 elections.?

The BSIEC boss also stated that ?The State Assembly has approved our budget but as for payments, we are getting it as it is coming. So far we have procured motor vehicles and also awarded contracts for the production of sensitive and non-sensitive materials to enable us conduct this election.

?We are in receipt of 21 motor vehicles and we are expecting the remaining ones. We have also started receiving most of the materials that we are going to use for this election.

?We also have other activities that are pending which will run from 21st September, 2024, and culminate on the 5th of October, 2024, which is the date of the election. We have made arrangements for the training of staff and adhoc staff for the conduct of this election, beginning from next week Thursday?, he said. (Daily Independent)

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