By Ovat Abeng
The Anambra State All Progressives Congress (APC), has withdraw from participating in the forthcoming local government election, scheduled for September 28th, 2024 in the state.
The party also announced, sueing the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) and Anambra State House of Assembly over what they described as irregularities in the conduct of the electoral process, even as they asked the court to nullify the election if ANSIEC goes ahead to conduct the exercise.
They stressed that involving in the election would amount to legalizing illegality in Nigeria democratic setting.
The motion not to participate in the LG’s election was moved by Hon Donatus Emecheta and seconded by Hon Ikunwata Charles Obadike during the party’s stakeholders meeting held at the state headquarters, opposite the state government house, Enugu-Onitsha expressway Awka, on Saturday.
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The party argued that the section 23(1) of the ANSIEC law 2024 as amended which stipulates 30 days notice of the date of election into LG on Anambra state is null and void, as it is inconsistent with section 103 (3) of the electoral act 2022 which provides 150 days notice of election date.
They prayed the court to restrain ANSIEC from conducting any election into 21 LGAs in the state on basis of section 23 (1) of ANSIEC law as amended.
Speaking further on the election while addressing members, the State Chairman of the party, Chief Basil Ejidike, noted that the APC under his able leadership will not involved because the ANSIEC and the state governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo are not ready to conduct the exercise in free, fair and credible manner.
According to him, how can a great party like APC will involved in an election where political parties are not giving enough time to conduct primaries to elect their candidates, no campaign rallies, no selling of forms in accordance to the electoral Law.
“The governor has already setup a tribunal at the Anambra State High Court, here in Awka for political parties that wish to challenged the outcome of the election.
Governor Soludo is not transparently prepared to give Ndi-Anambra an accountable local government system.
“We are already in the Court to challenged the process, because APC been the major opposition party in Anambra State must try as much as possible to live by example.The People Democratic Party PDP and the Labour Party have also gone to Court to challenged the irregularities, we applaud them, he stated.
Ejidike while urging members to remain focus, announced that the party will soon commence tour across the 21 local government areas, as part of preparation for the 2025 governorship election in the state
It was gathered that a minute silent was also held in honour of late Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah during the meeting.