The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission says it is ready to conduct free, fair and credible local government council elections.

Anthony Chinedu, the commissioner in charge of information, gave this assurance in Awka on Friday, adding that logistics for the exercise were almost ready.

The election for 21 local government council chairmanships and 326 councillor positions in the state is scheduled for August 29.

Mr Chinedu said Governor Charles Soludo had no intention of influencing or manipulating the election.

According to him, the commission is arranging non-sensitive materials and, at the same time, booking sensitive materials for the peaceful conduct of the elections.

“These materials will take some time to be accessed; we are assuring the Anambra electorate that these materials will be ready soon. The only problem we have is that the level of voter apathy in Anambra State is growing higher every election period in the state.

“People do not understand what it means to vote; somebody will say that he does not like what the government is doing, and because of that, he will not vote,” he said.

The ANIEC commissioner advised eligible voters in Anambra to endeavour to exercise their franchise for their preferred candidates.

He said refusing to vote would not produce any good outcome, adding that it was the civic responsibility of voters to effectively express the change they wished through their votes.

“Since the commission published timetables for the election sometime in September last year, only two political parties fielded candidates; this questions the whereabouts of others.

“If you are a member of a registered political party and you have the followers, why will you not join the electoral process?

“The governor has no intention whatsoever to influence or manipulate the elections as alleged by the general public. The governor will not be in any ward except his ward in the Isuoffia community on the election day,” he said.

(NAN)