Anambra Local Government Polls: PDP Warns Against Intimidation, Manipulation, Will Fully Participate

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

After waiting for over a decade, the Anambra State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has insisted that nothing short of the conduct of a credible and fair Local Council Polls will be accepted by it.

The Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo led-All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, administration in the State, on Monday, August 5, inaugurated the State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC, after its last outing in 2014.

The six-member ANSIEC headed by Genevieve Osakwe, a Magistrate has been charged with the conduct of Council Elections in the months ahead .

The last known Local Government Elections were held during the second tenure of former Governor Peter Obi in 2014.

His successor, Willie Obiano, operated with Caretaker Officials through out his eight years in office.

Governor Soludo had maintained the trend since mounting the saddle in 2021.

However, the June 20 Supreme Court judgement which declared illegal,the use of undemocratically elected officials for the running of the Third Tier of Government has forced a rethink, not just on the Anambra Governor, but his colleagues across the country.

The fear of having  Federal Allocation of Councils under interim leadership  halted,as ordered by the apex court  has re-awaken the democratic instincts of not a few State Chief Executives.

Addressing the Media on  Thursday, August 8, 2024, in Awka, the State Capital, Igwe Chigozie, the Anambra PDP Chairman, called on the ANSIEC to ensure that it upholds the principles of fairness and justice in its planned council polls.

He strongly emphasised the need for the State’s Electoral Umpire to exact its independence,as well as resist the temptation of  pandering to the whims of the ruling APGA.

“To this end, the PDP in the State, after all the waiting, will not condone the manipulation of the exercise”, he stated

He maintained that the PDP, as a party, is poised to fully participate in the up coming elections ,having adequately prepared for it .

The PDP Chairman informed that the party has been putting all necessary structures on the ground to emerge triumphant at the polls.

He insisted that the ANSIEC, as a matter of importance, should adhere strictly to the principles of transparency, fairness and justice.

Besides,he called for an intimidation and harassment- free exercise where all eligible voters will be given the opportunity to freely participate and make their choices.

While promising that the PDP will continue to strategize ahead of the Council Polls, Igwe, however, reiterated the warning that any exercise that falls short of being credible and fair will not just be acceptable to the PDP, but also to Anambra people.