Kwara to Hold LG Elections with Five Parties Participating

Kwara State is set to conduct local government elections on Saturday, with only five of Nigeria’s 19 political parties fielding candidates for the 16 local government chairperson and councillor positions.

Mohammed Baba-Okanla, Chairman of the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC), announced this at a media briefing held by the state’s Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ilorin.

The parties participating in the elections are the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Peoples Movement (APM), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Accord Party (AP).

Baba-Okanla stated that extensive arrangements have been made to ensure a smooth electoral process, including a detailed timetable for stakeholders to prepare adequately.

Polling stations will open at 8 a.m. and close at 3 p.m., with results to be collected at designated centers after counting.

“We have carefully planned every aspect of the electoral process,” he said, highlighting the training of electoral staff and the distribution of materials to facilitate transparent and lawful elections.

KWASIEC is also working with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the elections run smoothly, emphasizing the importance of a reliable voter register.

A training program for both permanent and ad hoc staff has been conducted, alongside consultations with security agencies to ensure safety during the elections.

Out of over 21,000 applications for ad hoc positions, about 7,000 were selected to assist in the elections across 2,887 polling units.

AbdulLateef Ahmed, chairman of the state NUJ, expressed support for the establishment of democratically elected local governments, urging KWASIEC to conduct free and fair elections.

Additionally, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed more than 3,000 officers statewide to ensure peaceful conduct during the elections. Commandant Umar Mohammed stated that the officers will work with other security agencies to prevent violence and electoral misconduct.

He called on political parties and citizens to act responsibly to maintain a peaceful electoral environment.