By Tony Okafor, Awka
No fewer than 700 individuals have declared their interest in contesting the upcoming Anambra State local government elections, slated for September 28.
This massive response comes barely 24 hours after the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) announced the polls.
Our correspondents, who tracked the expression of interest across the state’s 326 wards and 21 local government areas, reported an electrifying level of enthusiasm.
The aspirants, comprising councilors
and local government chairmen, will battle it out across six major political parties: APGA, APC, PDP, LP, SDP, and ADC.
Notably, the SDP will contest the polls predominantly as aggrieved factional members of APGA.
ANSIEC Chairman Genevieve Osakwe disclosed the election date in a circular, marking the first local government polls in 10 years.
The last election was held in 2014, with successive governors appointing caretaker committee chairmen every three months since then.
Governor Professor Chukwuma Soludo inaugurated ANSIEC on Tuesday, tasking the commission with organizing and supervising local government elections.
The election timetable and schedule of activities are available at the ANSIEC headquarters in Awka.
As opposition parties and civil society groups eagerly anticipate the polls, expectations are high that this election will end the practice of appointing caretaker committee chairmen.
The stage is set for a fiercely contested election, with 700 aspirants and more vying for coveted positions.
However, some opposition element had condemned the short timeline schedule for the poll.
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Rep. Afam Victor Ogene, representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency, had criticized the Anambra State House of Assembly’s hasty amendment of the state’s Electoral Law, describing it as an undemocratic tactic to frustrate opposition parties.
The amendment reduced the notice period for local government elections from 60 to 30 days, raising suspicions of a political ambush by the APGA-led government.
Ogene, leader of the Labour Party Caucus in the House of Representatives, argued that the shortened notice period would lead to widespread disenfranchisement and make it difficult for stakeholders to prepare for the election. He accused Governor Soludo and the State Assembly of perpetuating an undemocratic practice, excluding the majority and undermining the essence of democratic practice.
Ogene urged advocates of democracy to remain vigilant and ensure that the people’s will is not subverted by the state government’s tactics.
He criticized the government’s actions as a disservice to the people and a mockery of democracy, particularly given the 10-year gap since the last local government election in the state.
