The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Imo State has expressed astonishment and discontent over the local government council election conducted in the state, stressing that “there was no election conducted in the state.”
The Bar said what took place was a “sham, and a mockery of democracy”, and an insult to the sensibility of the citizenry and should be condemned in its entirety.
This was made known by the Owerri branch chairman of NBA, Chief Chris Ihentuge, while addressing journalists in Owerri, the capital of Imo State.
Recall that the council poll held on September 21, 2024. The chairman of the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC), Charles Ejiogu, declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) cleared all the 27 local government chairmanship and 305 councillorship seats in the elections.
However, the NBA said the elections was not conducted with the rules and regulations guiding the process.
They called for the resignation of ISIEC chairman, Charles Ejiogu, adding that the election fell short of the accepted world standard practice.
“During the just concluded Local Government Council election conducted in the State on September 21, 2024, we observed that materials did not get to many local government areas.
“There were no Imo State Independent Electoral Commission, ISIEC Staff present at the booths, and even in some places where they managed to come, they came with incomplete materials.
“In many places, they came with five ballot papers, with no result sheets. Some places, they came with ballot boxes with no materials.
“So what we deduced from everything that transpired was that there was no intention on the part of ISIEC to conduct an election, so the so-called election was basically a charade to deceive Imolites.”
The Owerri branch chairman of NBA, Ihentuge highlighted that they had expected the electoral body to have done the right thing but the contrary was the case.
“It was a sham, and a mockery of democracy. Is an insult to the people of Imo state; they wasted people’s time and the state fund in the name of doing an election, and am sure both the State Government and ISIEC were not ready for any election on that day.
“We in strong terms, condemn what happened on that day, and we are also asking the Chairman of ISIEC, Chief Charles Ejiogu, to resign because he doesn’t have the will power to conduct an election. Let him resign and also apologize to Imolites.
“The election Tribunal is supposed to be inaugurated before the election, but until today, as stakeholders we are not aware if it had been inaugurated, as If there were such an arrangement, we should be notified,” Ihentuge said.
It would be recalled that the Owerri Branch chairman of NBA, Chris Ihentuge, in company of the Secretary of the Bar, Daniel Odiba, and a member of the Bar. Ike Augustine, on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, visited ISIEC office to ascertain how prepared the commission was to conduct the LG election.
After the visit they disclosed to newsmen that the chairman of the commission, Chief Charles Ejiogu assured them of conducting a free, fair, credible and transparent election in the state.
