By NewsCritic Reporters
The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Abia State chapter has expressed its disappointment with the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, ABSIEC, under the leadership of Professor Mkpa Agu Mkpa, saying that election must not hold in Isialangwa-South LGA.
In a press release issued in Umuahia and signed by the APGA state Publicity Secretary, Hon Felix Nkoro, the party said the APGA feels disappointed already with the body language of the ABSIEC Chairman, Prof Mkpa Agu Mkpa over the forthcoming local government council elections.
According to the release, APGA is condemning in its entirety the position of ABSIEC by refusing to shift the date of the LGA election slated for December 18, 2020 in spite of the party’s opposition to it, which it said was duly communicated to ABSIEC.
The party said it is worrisome that Prof Mkpa has closed his eyes to genuine concerns raised by APGA as regards the conduct of the council elections in Abia State, and wishes to let the people know of this sad development.
APGA is contending that the election should be shifted to March, 2021 to enable all Abians to participate in the said elections, because not doing so would lead to the ABSIEC disenfranchising millions of eligible voters. The party reasoned that holding the election during the Christmas period is not good because most voters would have to leave their registration units to their villages for the Christmas celebration.
The APGA also called on the state government and ABSIEC to as a matter of urgency address the issue of the 2016 LGA chairmanship election in Isialangwa-South, where APGA and its chairmanship candidate Hon Christian Okeri were denied electoral victory as the duly elected chairman of the LGA.
Hon Felix Nkoro noted that ABSIEC has refused to obey a tribunal judgement which was upheld on appeal to swear-in the APGA candidate, Hon Christian Okeri as duly elected executive chairman of Isialangwa-South LGA.
“APGA therefore insists that her candidate in Isialangwa-South should be sworn-in as the Chairman and no election should be held in that local government regarding the position of the Chairmanship,” the party maintained.
APGA promised to remain resolute and focused in performing her constitutional role as a watchdog of the masses in Abia State, who have suffered deprivations of the dividends of democracy, including denial of good living standard owing to bad governance in the state.
