The Chairman, Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DESIEC, Chief Mike Ogbodu has said that local government election in the state will take place early next year.
Ogbodu disclosed this while defending the 2021 budget proposal before the State House of Assembly Committee on Establishment, Ethics and Privileges, Chaired by the Minority Leader, Hon Innocent Anidi.
The commission has proposed the sum of One Billion, One Hundred and Forty-Seven Million naira for the conduct of the forthcoming local government councils election in the state.
The DESIEC boss said nine hundred million naira is proposed for the conduct of the elections, while two hundred and forty-seven million naira is for related activities, including legal matters, post-election seminars, trainings among others.
Briefing the House Committee members on the activities of the Commission in the 2020 fiscal year as well as its projections for 2021, Chief Ogbodu said that the Commission is already putting measures in place towards achieving seamless local government election in the State.
He stated that the Commission is already considering possible date early next year for the proposed date for the local government election in the State, hence the proposed amount to be captured in the 2021 Appropriation law.
The DSIEC boss said the thirty-two point five cap limit given to the Commission to spend as capital expenditure for 2021 was inadequate and stressed the need for increase amongst other demands.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon Innocent Anidi, while commending DSIEC for its roles so far, urged it to sustain the tempo, particularly in the forthcoming local government elections in the State.
For his part, a member of the Committee, Hon Reuben Izeze urged the Commission to continue to uphold its integrity as an independent institution in the discharge of its duties.
Hon Izeze also charged the officials to strive to maintain absolute independence of the Commission in its operations.
