By Jude Michael
Stakeholder in Anambra State, consisting of civil society groups, leaders of political parties, community leaders, media and women’s groups, have called on Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, to quickly conduct local government elections in the state.
They made the call during a one day engagement convened by Africa Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), and Strengthening Transparency, Accountability in Governance and Electoral Process (STAGE), in collaboration with civil society groups.
Itia Otabor, Director of Strategy (Centre LSD), who spoke to journalists during the event, said: ‘We are here to urge the governor to conduct local government elections in the state.
‘Indication shows that most Anambra people desire the conduct of local government elections, instead, what we have is renewal of transition committees for local government leadership every three months. This is against the constitution, so we hope that the governor will do what is needful.
‘There are statutory matters that have to be done to show that there is hope about the conduct of the elections. The first is the constitution of the SIEC (State Independent Electoral Commission).
‘The conduct of local government elections is a promise made by the governor and it is now for us to make him accountable to us and we need the support of the media.
‘We need to remind him of the things he promised. The governor does not need to come overnight and conduct it. He will first constitute the ANSIEC and he can relieve himself of the headache and send the names of the commission members and they will begin to function.’
On his part, the coordinator, Anambra State Civil Society Network (ASCONET), Mr Chris Azor, said the non-conduct of local government elections in Anambra State was costing the state partnership with development partners.
‘The world is waiting for Anambra State to hold local government elections and development partners have assured that they are coming in once this is done.
‘No matter how you want to embellish it, caretaker committee is not known to law. Local government system needs to have elected leaders.’
Azor said it was unfortunate that workers at the State Independent Electoral Commission were still collecting salaries and doing no work, insisting that it wasn’t good governance to pay workers for doing nothing, when they could engage the workers towards the conduct of local government elections.
