Organisation urges Anambra State Government to begin LGA election process

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), has appealed to the Anambra state government to kick start the process of conducting local government elections in the state. civil organisation

The human rights group said in a statement jointly signed by Mr Vincent Ezekwueme, Chidi Mbah and Hyginus Udensi Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer respectively, that conduct of the Council poll is long overdue in the state and urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo to demonstrate political will in doing that.

The group equally challenged the state legislators to rise to the occasion by compelling Governor Soludo to conduct a council election.

“It is of prime importance for the (Anambra) legislators to empower and encourage Prof. Soludo to reconstitute the State Independent Electoral Commission to enable them to commence processes towards the conduct of credible, free, fair and generally acceptable local government election”, CLO said.

According to the rights watchdog, Anambra remains the only state in Nigeria that has conducted a local government election once since the inception of the current democratic dispensation in 1999.

”The first and only local government election was conducted in January 2014 by former Governor Peter Obi, and it will be the best and greatest democratic dividends Governor Charles Soludo and Honorable members of the State House of Assembly will bequeath to the state.

CLO noted that since January 2016 when the tenure of local government officials elapsed, it has been agitating for the conduct of local government elections in the state.

“If conducted, it will bring governance nearer to the people, improve political participation, grassroots mobilisation, harnessing of natural resources and comparative advantage”, it argues.

“There is no doubt in our mind that Governor Soludo as a product and beneficiary of the democratic process will certainly do the needful and conduct credible local government election, which is one of his salient campaign promises to Anambra indigene”, the group stated.

The group also called on political office holders seeking re-election in 2023 to give an account of their stewardship to enable the electorate to assess their performances to either renew their mandate or withdraw their mandate during next year’s general elections.

“The current ballot box revolution will be used by the electorate who are kings and masters to retire politicians that remember citizens and their constituencies only during elections, after the election he disappears only to reappear during next elections with emergency empowerment, whereas those seeking their first elective offices should as well tell citizens what they have done, contributed towards the common good and what they intend to do and achieved if elected.

It further urged the electorates to make wise choices with their votes during the next general election.

“To right the wrongs of the society, citizens must vote with their conscience and conviction, devoid of monetary inducements, nepotism, tribal or religious sentiment.

Dominica Nwabufo