Local government elections have not been conducted in the state in the last 13 years. Announcing the new elections date during a stakeholders meeting with registered political parties, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security operatives, media and civil society groups , the acting chairman of ANSIEC, Sylvester Okonkwo said that duly completed nomination forms should be delivered to the commission’s headquarters in Awka on or before August 15,2013.
Reading from a document titled “Notice of Election”, dated 24th June, 2013, Okonkwo said the state government is determined to hold the elections this time. He recounted how the previous attempts made to conduct the local government elections were thwarted by political intrigues, court actions,
and threats of mayhem by some interested parties, adding that the worst was that of 2004 when hoodlums burnt and destroyed electoral materials when the commission had gone far into the exercise.
He lamented that even as arrangements are on course, some disgruntled elements have made phone calls and sent text messages to him, not to conduct the polls now threatening to scuttle the elections scheduled for October 5. Okonkwo who said that the commission is not deterred by these latest alleged threats, however promised that ANSIEC would conduct a free, fair and credible local government election on October 5. Participants at the ceremony expressed worries over some hiccups they fear that might trail the exercises arising mainly from the present leadership of ANSIEC in an acting capacity and the court action instituted by the sacked chairman of ANSIEC, Professor, Titus Eze.
SEE THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS BY LOCAL GOVT.
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