By Jude Michael
The Anambra State House of Assembly has reacted to the comment by the national chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Mr. Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, concerning the recently amended Anambra State Electoral Law, describing his position on the matter as unnecessary spread of misinformation.
The Speaker of the House, Dr. Somtochukwu Udeze, who spoke through his Special Assistant, Mr. Franklin Osuagwu, reminded the IPAC Chairman that the forthcoming local government elections was firmly within the jurisdiction of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC).
The Speaker explained that the intention behind the amended law was to ensure that the people of Anambra State, under the leadership of their respective state party chairmen, had the primary role in nominating candidates for the election.
The Speaker said: ‘It is only logical and in the spirit of true democracy that those who are directly connected to the electorate— our state party chairmen—should have the prerogative to submit the list of candidates, to ensure that the choice truly reflects the will of the people at the grassroots level.
‘We find it curious that the National Chairman of IPAC, rather than the Anambra State Chapter of IPAC, is leading the charge against this amendment.
‘This raises questions about the true motives behind the press release, especially considering that the National Chairman is not directly involved in the political dynamics of Anambra State’s local elections.’
He said the section of the law in question primarily affected political parties in crisis, particularly those lacking a recognized National Chairman or where the leadership of the party was in dispute.
According to him, for parties without such issues, the law provided clear and fair options for nominating their candidates. Therefore, the Speaker contended, the objection raised by IPAC appeared to be more of a generalized criticism, rather than a legitimate concern grounded in the specificities of the law.
‘We acknowledge that IPAC has every right to express its opinions and to challenge the law in a court of competent jurisdiction if it believes there are valid grounds. However, it is important to note that the grievance being aired by IPAC seems to be an isolated opinion, rather than a widespread consensus among political parties in Anambra State.’
Udeze called on IPAC to be transparent and reveal the true sponsors behind its opposition to the law, urging all stakeholders to respect the rule of law and allow the democratic process to proceed without undue interference.
