The All Progressives Congress (APC) Anambra State Chapter, has withdrawn from the upcoming local government elections scheduled for September 28, 2024, as a result of perceived irregularities in the electoral process.
This decision came in following a motion to boycott the election by some APC stakeholders and chieftains. The motion was moved by Donatus Emecheta, and seconded by Akunwata Obadike, during the party’s stakeholders meeting held at the Party’s Office in Awka, the Anambra State capital on Saturday, September 7, 2024.
The State Chairman of the party, Basil Ejidike, while addressing the matter at hand, made it known to the public that he is in support of the decision taken by the stakeholders, adding that they will take legal action and challenge the election process in court.
According to him, the party has observed violations of the electoral process which the party believes will contribute to less credibility of the poll, adding that participating in the bye-elections will amount to “legalising illegality.”
The APC chairman firmly declared that the constitution of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) and the announcement of the election date did not follow due process as stated by the Electoral Act 2022.
He also pointed out that the APC, under his leadership, will not participate in the elections because ANSIEC and the state governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, have not shown readiness to conduct the exercise in a free, fair, and credible manner.
Ejidike questioned the non- allowance of political parties not given enough time to conduct primaries to elect their candidates, no campaign rallies, no selling of forms in accordance with the Electoral Act stating that APC can not be a part of a faulty process.
He further encouraged party members to remain focused, as the APC will soon begin a tour to the 21 local government areas in preparation for the 2025 governorship election in the state that is already fast approaching.
For over a decade, local government elections have not been conducted in the state and all the 21 local government areas in the state have been under the administration of caretaker committee chairmen appointed by the state governors, in every three months, to cater for the local government needs.
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