Acting chairman of Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), Mr. Sylvester Okonkwo has announced 5^th October as the date for the conduct of the local government election in 21 local councils in the state.

In a programme convened by ANSIEC and tagged “Meeting of the Stakeholders in an Electoral Process” Mr. Okonkwo reeled out the procedures for the election reiterating the commitment of the state electoral body in ensuring free, fair and credible election.

He said “In accordance with the provisions of Section 7 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Sections 153 and 163 of the local government law, No.5 of 1999 of Anambra State, as well as Section 31 of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended, notice is hereby given that election for the post of chairmanship for the 21 local government councils and councillorship for the 327 electoral wards in the state shall hold on October 5, 2013 in Anambra State.

Furthermore “Duly completed nomination forms are to be submitted to the commission’s headquarters on or before Thursday, August 15, 2013.”

He also made clear the commission’s commitment to ensuring a free, fair and credible election in the grassroots, stating that “none of the commission members is a card-carrying member of any political party”.

The commission having stated that an interactive session would be held failed to do so and aroused serious arguments among the stakeholders.

The meeting, however ended in confusion as some political parties faulted the intentions of the state electoral body.

While the state chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) expressed optimism that the election would hold, his counterparts in the Labour and APC said it would be a hoax.

This election, if held, will be the first since 1998.