Brace yourselves for LC1 elections
Mar 05, 2008
THE amendments to enable the Electoral Commission organise LC1 elections was passed a few weeks ago by the Parliament. This means the elections will be held soon. EC projections put the earliest time as November or December.
THE amendments to enable the Electoral Commission organise LC1 elections was passed a few weeks ago by the Parliament. This means the elections will be held soon. EC projections put the earliest time as November or December.
Therefore, all prospective candidates should start preparing for the race. Unlike previous elections, this will be a much tighter race, largely because the new law allows candidates to compete under party platforms.
All political parties have thus, got a big stake in it. Previously, only two candidates in most villages were verbally nominated for the single seat and at the end of the day, one was elected.
However, with at least four political parties putting up candidates, every village should have at least four people to choose from. The race will also be more expensive since candidates will have to make posters in their party colours.
That aside, the concern has always been about the negative impact party politics may have on the day-to-day running of the village councils. The argument was that LC1s should not be elected under party politics, given their closeness to the grassroots.
However, now that it has been confirmed that parties will fully participate, successful LC1 leaders must be sensitised on how to unify their villages after the elections. They should make sure that they exercise impartiality when conducting their affairs after the elections.
Therefore, all prospective candidates should start preparing for the race. Unlike previous elections, this will be a much tighter race, largely because the new law allows candidates to compete under party platforms.
All political parties have thus, got a big stake in it. Previously, only two candidates in most villages were verbally nominated for the single seat and at the end of the day, one was elected.
However, with at least four political parties putting up candidates, every village should have at least four people to choose from. The race will also be more expensive since candidates will have to make posters in their party colours.
That aside, the concern has always been about the negative impact party politics may have on the day-to-day running of the village councils. The argument was that LC1s should not be elected under party politics, given their closeness to the grassroots.
However, now that it has been confirmed that parties will fully participate, successful LC1 leaders must be sensitised on how to unify their villages after the elections. They should make sure that they exercise impartiality when conducting their affairs after the elections.