Preparations for local government elections in Cross River State have officially begun, as announced by Dr. Ekong Boco, the Chairman of the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission. This announcement came during a meeting with political party leaders on September 25, 2024.

Dr. Boco outlined that party primaries and any related dispute resolutions are already in progress and are expected to conclude by October 25, 2024. He emphasized that all campaign activities in the local government areas must also wrap up by this date to ensure a smooth electoral process. The local government elections are set for October 26, 2024.

Highlighting the importance of fairness in the electoral process, Dr. Boco assured that the elections would be conducted in an equitable manner for all registered political parties. He stressed the necessity of a peaceful environment, stating, “Election is not war. We are going to conduct a rancour-free election. So we need a peaceful environment to achieve a credible and acceptable election in the state.”

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Political parties are showing a readiness to participate, with many noting that the elections are long overdue. However, concerns were raised by Venatius Ikem, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), regarding the sudden amendments to the electoral law and what he described as favoritism toward the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Despite these criticisms, Ikem confirmed that the PDP would join the elections “in protest” rather than opting to boycott.

Representatives from both the Labour Party and the Young Progressives Party expressed their eagerness to participate in the upcoming polls. This initiative follows the earlier approval of the amended Cross River Electoral Law by Governor Bassey Otu, which the State House of Assembly passed, establishing a four-year term for elected local government officials.