The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission has insisted that no political party or candidate will be favoured during the local government election coming up on September 28 across the state.
Recall that some major political parties, including the All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party, have threatened to boycott the local government elections, citing “massive irregularities and non-adherence to due process” as enshrined in the Electoral Law 2022.
The APC, PDP and LP had, at different interactions with the media, alleged that ANSIEC is working to favour the candidates of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, and therefore described the forthcoming LG elections as a “sham”, while also calling for it’s postponement.
However, the Chairman of ANSIEC, Genevieve Osakwe, during the last day of the Commission’s sensitisation tour of local government areas with a visit to Awka North and South, Dunukofia, Anaocha and Njikoka LGAs, on Monday, urged Ndi Anambra not to fall for “cheap propaganda” peddled by the opposition regarding the local government election in the state.
The tour was attended by a cross-section of stakeholders from the local government areas drawn from political parties, candidates, religious leaders, representatives of town unions and traditional institutions.
Osakwe said, “The essence of the tour is to interact, educate and cascade the commission’s plan for free, fair and credible polls in two weeks to the grassroots using community and opinion leaders. We believe this will help the commission achieve success as the electorate will, themselves, play the leading role as major stakeholders in the electoral process.
“Ignore the rumour making the rounds that the commission has endorsed some candidates and political parties ahead of the election. It is cheap propaganda which is targeted at discouraging the electorate from speaking through their votes and insisting on quality representation.
“ANSIEC under her watch is determined to deliver the freest, fairest and most credible local government elections ever witnessed in the country.”
The participants commended the commission for bringing them up to speed through the local government sensitisation tour.
One of the stakeholders and President General of Awba-Ofemili, Fidelis Chukwunedu, thanked the commission for being dogged in ensuring that the various communities in the 21 local government areas of the state are being carried along, assuring that they will sensitise the electorate in their communities to ensure full participation.
Meanwhile, the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has also restated that nothing would stop the local government election scheduled for September 28.
Soludo urged ndị Anambra to participate in the election, assuring them that movement would be restricted on election day.
He made this declaration during an interactive meeting with APGA candidates at the Prof. Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Center in Awka.
Attendees included local government chairmen, party chairmen, state working committee members, and State Executive Council members.