Lawmaker Slams Soludo Over LG Electoral Law Amendment

Member representing Ogbaru federal constituency of Anambra State, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, has described how the Anambra State House of Assembly members amended the Anambra State Electoral Law as worrisome.

In a statement he issued to journalists in Awka, the state capital yesterday, Hon. Ogene, who is the leader of the Anambra State Labour Party House of Representatives caucus, described the manner the electoral law amendment was done as a promotion of undemocratic tactics aimed at frustrating opposition parties in the state.

Describing the amendment as curious, he stated that the development armed the Anambra State government to go ahead to hurriedly fix the conduct of local government elections for September 28, 2024, thereby causing unease in the state’s political ecosystem.

He said that the swift amendment of the state’s Electoral Law was an unholy manoeuvre to stifle the interest of the grassroots in producing credible leadership at the local government levels as envisioned by both the constitution and the recent pronouncement by the Supreme Court, which granted financial autonomy to the LGAs for sustainable developments at the local areas.

He said, “In a move widely viewed as politically motivated, the State Assembly had recently amended the Anambra Electoral Law 2024, slashing the notice period for local government elections from 60 days to 30 days. This sudden change has raised suspicions among stakeholders, who see it as an attempt by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)-led government under Governor Chukwuma Soludo to launch a political ambush on opposition parties.

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With this surprising amendment, the Anambra State government has hastily announced local government elections for September 28, 2024, causing widespread fears regarding a pre-determined outcome.”

Hon. Ogene, further stated, “Governor Soludo and the State Assembly have perpetuated an undemocratic practice by utilising the democratic institution of the Assembly to handpick local government leaders. This anti-people approach excludes the majority who do not align with their authoritarian tendencies.”