Chairman of the Inter-party Advisory Committee (IPAC), Anambra State, Mr. Uche Ugwuoji has assured readiness of its members to participate in the coming September 28 local government council elections in the state.
He gave the assurance at a meeting of leaders of political parties in the state with the leadership of the state Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) held at the state electoral umpire’s headquarters, Awka yesterday.
Responding to the explanations given by the ANSIEC chairman and other leaders of the Commission pertaining to the Commission’s preparations for the polls, Mr. Ugwuoji expressed satisfaction that the Commission was committed to providing all the political parties a level playing ground to compete in the polls.
He stated that members of his committee will participate in the local government elections pointing out that the ANSIEC chairman has assured that the Commission has applied for a voter’s registrar from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting of the local government elections, and, also promised that they would look into other demands made political party leaders to see where it is possible to make adjustments.
The ANSIEC chairman, Mrs Genevieve Osakwe who earlier addressed the leaders of political parties including, the state ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Labour Party (LP), All Progressives Congress (APC), ADP, Zenith Party, among several others assured the party leaders that the Commission had already applied to the INEC for a voter’s registrar for the conduct of the council polls, and, emphasised that since the Commission lacked the powers to compile voters registrar, it would rely on a voter’s registrar provided to it by the INEC.
On the demand for extension of the time table for the conduct of the council polls as demanded particularly by the APC, LP, and, some other party leaders, the ANSIEC boss promised that the members of his Commission would meet to review all the demands, and, assured that they Commission would do everything possible within the law to ensure a level playing group for all the political parties participating in the polls holding in the 21 local government areas of the state for the purpose of electing the council leaders.
Meanwhile, earlier in his speech, APC chairman, Chief Basil Ejidike has emphasised the need for the election timetable to be extended to enable various political parties conduct primaries for purposes of choosing their candidates and also demanded for a review of the voter’s registrar to enable all those who attained voting age of 18 after the last voter’s registrar review captured to be able to participate in the council polls.
Also, secretary of the LP, Chief C. J. Okoli-Akirika, a lawyer urged the Commission to conduct the council polls in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 constitution (as amended), instead of the electoral law passed by the state House of Assembly, arguing that the state Assembly Electoral Law.
Speaking to newsmen later on the sidelines, APGA chairman in the state, Chief Ifeatu Obi-Okoye expressed readiness of his party to participate in the election as scheduled.
He stated that those political parties demanding extension of timetable were those that lacked internal mechanisms for adjusting to emergencies.
