…Says ANSIEC’s Not Ready To Conduct Election
By Chikaodi Chukwuleta
All Progressives Congress (APC), Anambra State has advise the party members to remain focused and avoid distractions.
This was disclosed during an expanded Exco meeting held at New APC State Office, Government House, Awka, to address the isuue of local government election coming up soon in the state.
Addressing the party members, the state chairman of the party, Mr Basil Ejidike said the party was convinced that Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) is not ready to conduct election, and that the party has made it clear that it is always ready to partake once they are ready to do the needful, noting that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is not even prepared for the election because they have not done the primaries.
He said that what they intend to do is to announce the names of councillors and chairmen as winners, adding that “whatever thing we need to do should be free and fair.”
He disclosed that the party(APC) has gone to court challenging the processes and that the adhoc committee set up by the committee affirmed that the party is not going to participate because it will amount to legitimizing illegalities unless they decide to go back and do the needful.
Ejidike said that in the meeting that was called by ANSIEC, APGA did not allow the main chairman that was recognised by ANSIEC to attend the meeting .” The whole thing is messed up, no arrangement, no preparations. 30 days was given to the parties. After elections, ANSIEC might decide not to announce result where that election was held, where it is done not to talk of review of voters register. We want them to get things straightened.Once it is done, we are ready and set to go,” he said.
“APC is hoping to be at the Government House in the next election. Soludo promised Ndi Anambra of conduting local government election within six months but today, it is almost two years and six months. If not court mandate and instruction from His Excellency, Bola Tinubu for states to conduct election”.
APC State Legal Adviser, Barr Chukwunoso Chinweuba said the party have instituted an action in the High Court, challenging the entire procedure concerning local government election.
According to him, a notice issued by ANSIEC is inconsistence with the provisions of the constitution and the Electoral Act, paragraph 11 part 2 of second schedule of 1999 Constitution made provisions on who will set out procedure for local government elections.
He added that the provision says the National Assembly, in line with Section 150 of the Electoral Act provides in line with Paragraph 11 of Part 2 of the Second Schedule of 1999 Constitution which states that the procedure which will be set out by the National Assembly will be of equal force to all the states in the federation .
Chinweuba said Sections 103 and 150 of the Electoral Act will be challenged and that they will ask the court for the interpretation and at the same time, they will be asked to set aside any election that may be conducted based on the already notice given by ANSIEC.
“We are saying that ANSIEC is supposed to give the people of Anambra State, all the political parties at least 150 days for them to prepare for the election. Therefore, the matter is in the court and we demand that justice must be done”.
