By Jude Michael
A governorship aspirant of the Labour Party (LP) for next year’s election in Anambra State, Mr John Nwosu, has rejected the proposed local government election by the State Independent Electoral Commission.
Nwosu in a press release he signed and sent out described the process as being hasty and purposely intended to aid the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, to capture the grassroots for next year’s election.
He said: ‘The unbelievably contrived and hurried Local Government Elections purportedly scheduled for 28th September, 2024 is stranger than fiction.
‘Governor is convinced that he can capture the Anambra State Judiciary and use them to rubber stamp the election heist he is planning against the wishes of Ndi Anambra who are ready and willing to participate massively in the Local Government Elections.
‘We cannot condemn the 2023 General Elections in Nigeria as lacking the minimum standards expected of a democratic election and sit by watching Anambra State Local Government Elections heading with speed to a worse outcome.
‘The planning so far lacks natural justice, equity and good conscience and if executed as planned, the consequences are likely to make an already volatile security situation in Anambra State worse.
‘Accordingly, I, Mr. John Nwosu, on behalf of the John Nwosu Campaign Organization, reject the hurried and spurious amendments to the Anambra State Local Government Election Laws crassly done in favour of the incumbent Government of Anambra State.’
He noted that the Local Government Election Law, which is guiding the Elections, had been hurriedly amended twice to achieve a set purpose.
‘The two amendments lack content and diligence in legal drafting. Their impact is to meet a set goal known to Ndi Anambra – Win via subterfuge, all chairmanship and councillorship seats for the incumbent Governor of Anambra State, even if the heavens fall.
‘This obvious attack on the democratic process by an elected Governor who swore to protect and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is based on the jaundiced legal advice that litigation on Local Government Elections begin and end with the State High Court system whose welfare depend on the goodwill of the Governor.
‘The John Nwosu Campaign Organization wholly and entirely reject this jackboot mentality to Anambra State Local Government Elections fixed without thorough and comprehensive consultations for the 28th day of September, 2024.
‘I urge caution on the planners and intended participants to work out a process and modus that will promote Trust and Unity of Ndi Anambra instead of chaos and further security challenges in our dear state.’
