By NewsCritic Reporters
The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has given conditions under which the party would participate in the forthcoming Local Government Council elections, saying that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, ABSIEC, must sign to an undertaking not to interfere in the elections.
Addressing the press today Monday, October 5th, 2020 at the party’s secretariat located at No 52 Eket street, Umuahia, the APGA Chairman Revd Augustine Ehiemere and the Publicity Secretary Hon. Felix Nkoro, regretted that during the 2016 LGA elections held in the state that the APGA witnessed a situation where the state government allegedly hijacked the process from the ABSIEC.
APGA stressed that as a result of this development, the LGA elections became a charade, warning that the party would not tolerate the impunity of the PDP led government as witnessed in the 2016 elections.
Revd Ehiemere challenged the ABSIEC Chairman, Prof Mkpa Agu Mkpa to live above board in the conduct of the elections, reminding him that Abia is not a one-party state, hence, the need to ensure that the election is credible.
The APGA Chairman said that “Prof Mkpa told us the political parties during a meeting that I will not allow my hands to be tied”, adding that they expect the ABSIEC boss to fulfil his promises and do something different, particularly this time Abians desire change.
However, Revd Ehiemere disclosed that APGA will not participate in the Isiala-Ngwa South council poll owing to the ABSEIC flagrant disobedience to the tribunal judgement nullifying the 2016 council poll in the LGA, and ordered a fresh election in which the APGA candidate, Hon Christian Ikechukwu Okeri, was the sole candidate for the poll after the court disqualified his PDP opponent.
He pointed out that given the past experience, it will not be out of place to suggest that the PDP led government in Abia strive in illegality and impunity by frustrating APGA and its candidate. “Therefore, APGA wants to sound it categorically clear that it will not tolerate any partiality, lawlessness and violation of the rule of law and principles of democracy in the proposed council election as announced by ABSIEC”, he adds.
The purpose of the press conference, according to the chairman is to make the position of APGA known as regards the forthcoming LGA elections, and to inaugurate the committee that will handle the LGA polls. Also, he said the sale of nomination forms would start.
The APGA has fixed the cost of nomination form for LGA Chairmanship aspirants for N150, 000 and Councillorship N60,000. He urged women to avail themselves of the 50 per cent discount rate for women aspirants to participate in the elections.
