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By Madu Obi
The member of House of Representatives representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency of Anambra State, Hon Afam Ogene has described as hasty the move by the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA- controlled government in the state to conduct local government election next month, arguing that it was aimed at frustrating opposition political parties.
The newly appointed chairman of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, Genevieve Osakwe had on Monday announced that the local government election would take place on September 28.
The announcement came on the heels of the amendment of the Anambra State Electoral Law by the Anambra State House of Assembly.
The State Assembly's amendment of the Anambra Electoral Law 2024, had slashed the notice period for local government election from 60 days to 30 days.
In a statement in Awka, Hon Ogene faulted the swift amendment of the electoral law, calling it an unholy manoeuvre to stifle the interest of the grassroots in producing credible leadership at the local government levels as envisioned by both the constitution and the recent pronouncement by the Supreme Court, which granted financial autonomy to the LGAs for the purpose of sustainable developments at the local areas.
According to him, the sudden change has raised suspicion among stakeholders, who see it as an attempt by the APGA-led government, under Governor Chukwuma Soludo, to launch a political ambush on opposition parties.
He said that with the surprising amendment in hand, the Anambra State government has hastily announced local government elections for September 28, 2024, causing widespread fears regarding a pre-determined outcome.
Ogene, who is the leader of the Labour Party caucus in the House of Representatives added: "Governor Soludo and the State Assembly have perpetuated an undemocratic practice by utilizing the democratic institution of the Assembly to handpick local government leaders. This anti-people approach excludes the majority who do not align with their authoritarian tendencies.
The newly imposed 30-day notice period for local government election will lead to widespread disenfranchisement at the grassroots level. Within this truncated timeframe, it will be nearly impossible for stakeholders to conduct meaningful consultations, organize primary elections, secure funding, and prepare for the election without government support.
This is a disservice to the people and a mockery of our democracy. By frustrating the enthronement of true democracy at the grassroots level - the foundation of democratic governance - the government is mindlessly undermining the very essence of democratic practice.
Indeed, it is ludicrous that 10 years after the last local government in the state - and two and half years since he mounted the saddle - Governor Soludo and his recently appointed ANSIEC would seek to hoodwink the people of the state through a hurriedly clobbered council election process.
We urge all advocates of democracy to remain vigilant and engaged in the upcoming Anambra local government and state election by ensuring that the people's will is not subverted by the state government's deceitful tactics under Governor Soludo's leadership."
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