Anambra state chapter of All Progressive Congress (APC), Saturday, lambasted Governor Chukwuma Soludo and the State House of Assembly over the September 28, 2024 scheduled Local Government election, arguing that it was hurriedly planned to disfranchise eligible voters and legalise illegalities within the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) fold.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The state Chairman of APC, Hon. Basil Ejidike, while addressing a press conference in Awka, the Anambra state capital, flanked by other executive members of the party, queried the governor for failing to conduct council poll since two years and six months in office, and House of Assembly for amending both the state local government and electoral law twice within one month.
According to Ejidike, the state lawmakers having adjudicated on political parties’ responsibilities, including reducing the election activities to 30 days, the citizenry who clocked 18 years between 2023 and 2024 would be disfranchised since enough time was not provided for review of voters’ register, among others.
He also lambasted the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) for allegedly excluding the leadership of political parties in the preparation towards the conduct of the poll, including keeping mum to the continuous amendments of the law backing them vis-a-vis going to fix date for the election.
The party boss, however, maintained that APC was prepared to participate in the election once a level playing ground was provided for all the political parties existing in the state, failure of which they would be forced to seek other legitimate options to compel the relevant authorities to obey the people yearnings to conduct a credible poll.
“If the government and ANSIEC continue the way they are going with this, we may be forced to seek other legitimate options because obviously there is nowhere we will be part of efforts to diffranchise Anambrarians. But whatever options we may decide to take later, it will be in consultation with IPAC (Interparty Advisory Council),” he added.
Contributing, APC state legal adviser, Barr Chukwunonso Chinwuba, noted that some of the amended sections of the Anambra State Local Government law and Anambra State electoral law were inconsistent with the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria and national electoral act, even as the amendment carried out when the process for conduct of the poll has commenced amounts to illegality.