In preparation ahead of the scheduled September 28th, 2024 Local Government Election in Anambra, the State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress APC, has urged the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC, to extend the date to between 90-150 days to enable the party participate fully.
The State Chairman of the Party, Chief Basil Ejidike, made the call while briefing Journalists in Awka, on Saturday.
Ejidike said the call was necessary to enable APC as the major opposition party and other political parties in the state to be fully prepared in the all-important exercise.
According to him, APC is fully prepared to participate in the election, if the ANSIEC can extend the date according to the electoral Law to between 90-150 days, provide a level playground for all interested political parties involved and as well review voters registration to enable those that just attained the aged of 18 this year to participate.
“We expect a maximum level of credibility and transparency in the process.
“We are yet to be convinced that Governor Chukwuma Soludo is prepared to conduct the local government election in Anambra State.
For instance, the 1st stakeholders meeting organised by ANSIEC that supposed to be for political parties under the umbrella of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) was hijacked by traditional rulers, president generals of communities and religion leaders under the directive of Governor Soludo.
“As it stands now, gentlemen of the press, I can authoritatively tell you that APC under my leadership are of the opinion that the constituted ANSIEC, Chair by Lady Genevieve Osakwe is not fully ready to conduct the exercise in a transparent and credible manner.
“How can we participate in the election, where most of the concerned political parties have not commenced selling of interest and nomination forms for their intended aspirants, no stakeholders meeting between the State Electoral body, political parties and the security agencies to brainstorm on how the exercise can be conducted in a free, fair and credible manner. This is a massive signal that the election is based on the personal interest of APGA government in the state.
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“Though, as we all know, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led administration under the leading African political party, APC support any State of the Federation who is bent on extending the dividends of democracy to the grassroot through the conduct of a credible and transparent Local Government election and with that, APC in Anambra State, is prepared to participate in the election only if, the Anambra Government and ANSIEC can conduct the exercise in a level play ground to all the political parties involved, review voters registration and to extend the date to between 90-150 days.
Ejidike, however, warned that APC may be forced to seek other options to challenge the exercise should the state government in collaboration with ANSIEC not change from the negative way and manner they are currently going about with the process.
The State Legal Adviser of the party, Barrister Chukwunoso Chumwuba, who also spoke during the briefing condemned the recent amendment of local government law and that of the Anambra Electoral Law by the State House of Assembly shortly after the announcement of the local government election, noting that the action was inconsistent with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
TheWitness
