A human rights group, Beyond Platform, has faulted Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma’s appointment of sole administrators for the 27 local governments in the state instead of conducting democratic elections at that tier of government.
In a statement issued yesterday and signed by the convener, Chibundu Uchegbu, the group flayed the governor over his announcement to conduct council elections after four times he had promised and failed to conduct it.
The governor had announced, yesterday, that council elections would be held in 60 days. He had cited insecurity as the reason for the inability to carry out the exercise.
In a statement titled: “Yet another appointment of sole administrators: 60 endless days,” the group said: “Moments ago, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, through his Information Commissioner, Declan Emelumba, announced the appointment of 27 sole administrators into the 27 local councils in the state, adding that it would ensure the conduct of credible local council elections in the state in the next 60 days.”
The group stressed that this recent development is not palatable to Imo people and all lovers of democracy in Nigeria and beyond.
Uchegbu highlighted that the governor had promised severally to conduct local government elections without fulfilling the same.
He added, “None of these promises was kept. So, what difference will these fresh 60 days make? Within the period of these unfulfilled promises, over five states in the country had successfully conducted local council elections and more are underway.”
