By Our correspondent
Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has sparked controversy by declaring the September 28 Local Government election a done deal, with no opposition party able to win even a single ward.
He advised opposition parties not to waste resources campaigning, as all chairmanship and councillorship seats are allegedly secured by the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
At a meeting last Sunday at Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre Awka, Soludo told party members, including candidates and stakeholders, that anyone contesting the results in court would be wasting their time, as APGA “owns the courts.”
An inside source quoted him saying, ” “Any non-APGA member hoping to win any seat in the September 28 council polls in Anambra State is wasting their money, adding ” Anyone going to contest the results in court would be wasting their time as APGA owned the courts.”
Unsurprisingly, opposition parties have taken issue with Soludo’s statement, threatening legal action against the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) and the state government.
Some have vowed to boycott the polls, citing concerns over electoral irregularities and rigging.
As Anambra prepares for its first Local Government election in over a decade, Soludo’s assertion has cast a shadow over the electoral process, fueling accusations of APGA’s attempt to undermine democracy.
Notably, the state has only conducted Local Government elections once since 1999, in January 2014.
