The Abia State Electoral Commission, ABSIEC says a training programme for Ad-hoc staff (poll officials) for the 2 November, Chairmanship and Councillorship elections will be held on 29 October.
A release endorsed by the ABSIEC Commissioner in charge of Information, Training and Voter Education, Dr. Kelechi Kemjika Okere says the exercise will take place simultaneously at designated centres in all the 17 Local Government Areas of the State at 10 AM.
The release makes it clear that attendance is mandatory as only those trained for the exercise will be shortlisted for the conduct of the polls.
Recall that the Commission had earlier announced that the local government election would be held on November 2, 2024.
Chairman of ABSIEC, Professor George Chima, announced both the poll date and the timetable at the Commission’s headquarters, Umuahia, during a stakeholders’ meeting with representatives of 18 political parties.
He apologised to the parties for the short notice for the poll, explaining that the abrupt preparation became expedient to enable Abia to beat the three months deadline set by the federal government for states to conduct council poll or forfeit council allocations.