From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
There is an indication that the last Saturday local government elections conducted by Imo State Electoral Commission (ISIEC) is under threat as the State chapter of All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA) condemned the elections, describing it as an “open robbery” and “rape of democracy” perpetrated by undemocratic forces.
The party said it will go to court to compel the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Allocation Commission, RMFAC, to cease monthly allocation of the 27 local government areas.
Chief John Iwuala, the political party’s State Chairman, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting comprising chairmanship and councillorship candidates of the party held on Thursday at the party’s headquarters in Owerri.
Iwuala also said that APGA have advanced plans to challenge ISIEC’s infractions in court, “apart from violating its own guidelines, there was absence of materials, failure of officials to show up at polling centers, failure to publish the list of candidates and their particulars, and failure to provide a window for substitution of candidates, among other infractions,” he stated.
He further alleged that ISIEC colluded with the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC to impose their surrogates as Local Government Chairmen and Councillors in the 27 local governments and 305 wards of the State.
“We will resist this open robbery and rape of democracy. We would challenge this matter in court, we will approach the Elections Petition Tribunal, where we will present our case that no local government election took place in the State” Iwuala declared.
He also announced that party would demand a refund of monies collected from candidates and reiterated APGA’s commitment to resisting electoral malpractices.
Some Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates at the meeting gave reports of electoral malpractices from their various local governments.
Hon. Emenike Okwudili, a Chairmanship candidate, reported that there was no election in Ideato South Local Government Area.
Okwudili informed that some ISIEC Adhoc staffs actually came with electoral materials but no result sheet and there were no presiding officers or polling clerks.
Similar reports emerged from Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA, where Chief Ugochukwu Uche reported that no election took place, and Isiala Mbano, where Chief Sharon Ohaka also confirmed that there were no election.
