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By Madu Obi
Thirteen political parties under the aegis of the Anambra State Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, have resolved to participate in the September 28th local government area in the state.
Some political parties had opposed the September 28th date for the election on the ground that the time is too short.
They also argued that the amendments of the Anambra State Electoral Law made by the state House of Assembly amounted to a plot to disenfranchise the electorate.
But speaking after a meeting in Awka, state chairman of IPAC, Comrade Uche Ugwuoji said there is no justification for members of the body to boycott the election.
Ugwoji said: "To further deepen democracy in Nigeria, especially at the grassroots level and local government areas of Anambra state, the Inter Party Advisory Council IPAC in the state being the umbrella body of all political parties in Anambra State after an extraordinary meeting today the 24th of August 2024, hereby resolve as follows:
"This is to further bring governance closer to the people and for the people at that level to participate in governance as prescribed by the Constitution.
IPAC under which all registered political parties in Anambra State belong have resolved to fully participate in the local government election as scheduled by the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC to hold on the 28th of September 2024 in accordance with the Anambra State Electoral Laws.
"One of the key points to note is that IPAC begged for the extension of time, but from the letter we got from the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, they said that the election is time barred and that the election must hold on the 28th of September this year.
ANSIEC has promised a very credible, fair and transparent election during the stakeholders meeting convened by the body.
IPAC is a body of its own and if any political party says it is going to court , honestly it did not come to the table of IPAC and we are not aware of it and possibly that party is on its own."
According to Ugwuoji, the Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, of which he is the chairman, has decided to participate in the said local government election.
Also speaking, the state chairman of Accord Party, Hon Bartholomew Igwedibia said the non conduct of local government election in Anambra State is to the disadvantage of the people at the grassroot.
He argued that it is the various local government areas that suffer for non conduct of the election as their allocations would not be released to them while salaries and entitlements of workers would not be paid.
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