By Danmusa Mohammed & Patricia Ochayi

The Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC) has fixed November 1st, 2008, for the conduct of local government elections in the state.

It would be recalled that the conduct of local government elections in Nasarawa State has been delayed by the state government because of the reason of insecurity in some parts of the state.

Announcing the date for the council polls after a meeting with registered political parties in the state at the NASIEC office in Lafia, the state capital last week, the commission’s chairman, Hon. Musa Agyo assured of the readiness of his commission to conduct hitch-free elections.

He said that the state government has already commenced the process of releasing funds to the commission to enable it step up its preparations for smooth conduct of the forthcoming election.

While commending the political parties for the understanding and prompt response to the commission’s invitation for the meeting, the chairman challenged them to immediately swing into action by adopting measures that would assist in ensuring a level playing ground for a successful conduct of the "sensitive exercise."

Hon. Agyo said the timetable for the November elections would be released to the political parties and the public as soon as possible to enhance their preparations for the elections.

The chairman described the fear in some quarters of a possible hijack of activities of the commission by the state government as baseless, assuring that NASIEC as a constitutional body and with people of proven integrity as its members, would not compromise its constitutional responsibilities of conducting credible elections in the state.

Meanwhile, members of some of the political parties who spoke to Nigerian Newsday have promised to cooperate with the electoral commission with a view to ensuring a successful conduct of the exercise slated for November.

They, however made a passionate appeal to the state government to assist all the political parties with fund so as to enable them prepare for the exercise.