Group Writes INEC, DSS, Police, Threatens To Disrupt Anambra 2021 Governorship Election

Awka – The Movement for the Conduct of Local Government Election in Anambra State, has threatened to deploy every machinery within its capacity to disrupt the November 6 Governorship election in the state, if local government election is not conducted in the state.

The group is also accusing political parties of not pressuring Governor Willie Obiano enough to conduct the council polls, which it said will entrench democracy at the grassroots.

Local government elections were conducted last in Anambra in 2014, at the end of former Governor Peter Obi’s 8-year tenure.

The Obiano administration had said it has not been able to conduct the election because of numerous court rulings against the exercise.

The Convener of the Group, Comrade Osita Obi had on Tuesday, submitted a warning letter on the proposed plans by the Group, to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the Police and Department of State Security in the state.

Speaking after he submitted the letters, Comrade Obi maintained that the group and its allied partners are committed to preventing the conduct of the governorship election slated for November 6, 2021, if the Local Government elections are not conducted

“It has been long local government elections were conducted in Anambra State. Former Governor, Peter Obi did not conduct Local Government elections until his last year in office. That was after he had spent eight years in office. The incumbent Governor, Obiano has refused to conduct the election and the state is about to go to the polls in November to elect the next governor. That is why we are saying that no election will hold in Anambra again until local government elections are held and the Executive Chairmen and Councilors elected,” he said.

The Rights activist regretted that the absence of elected Local Government Administrations in the state, has denied the people dividends of democracy and created a wide gap between the people and government.

According to him, if the local council leaders are enthroned, a lot of developmental issues at the grassroots would be addressed.

“In Anambra, the roads are bad. There are no potable water in the villages. The point is that there is no body to articulate the needs of the people and bring to the notice of government. If such election is conducted, we will have 326 councilors and 21 chairmen. This is massive employment and empowerment for the people also. There is also the advantage of promoting democratic principles at the grassroots. It is sheer wickedness for the governor not to conduct LGA elections. It means he wants to enjoy at the state level while the others at the grassroots are left to fry,” he regretted.

On the claims by the state government that court litigation has prevented it from conducting the polls, Obi, who is also the coordinator, Recover Nigeria Project, described it as a total farce.

He accused the Obiano administration of only being interested in the allocation for the Council Areas from the Federal Government and the revenue from the council areas, with which he said, it has been able to do nothing.

“The problem is the greed of our governors. Today in Anambra, we have crises with the Keke Union, the Tipper Drivers Union, the Bus Drivers Union, name it. All these are because officials of the state government have hijacked the various unions imposing all manner of levies which the people are forced to pay. If there are elected chairmen, they will be in charge of these issues and the monies generated from them will be used to develop the various council areas. That is good governance,” he posited.

Obi called on political parties and politicians to support the agitation for the conduct of local government elections in the state, warning that the negative implication for the grassroots economy will be damaging if the statusquo is left unchallenged.

 

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