Abia LG poll put on hold
From Bonifac Okoro, Umuahia
The prosed local government election in Abia State scheduled for today, Friday, May 19, 2023, has been put on hold.
Though there is no official declaration by government on whether the election is holding or not, Chairman of Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC), Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa, gave the hint that the exercise may not hold Thursday evening, citing a number of factors.
Mkpa, who spoke with an Umuahia-based radio station, FLO FM, enumerated the challenges militating against his Commission’s plan for a smooth conduct of the third and last local government election by the outgoing Okezie Ikpeazu-led administration to also include the ongoing strike action by the organised labour in the state and non-purchase of Nomination Forms by the political parties.
According to the ABSIEC Chairman, the Commission was yet to vacate restraining orders from Arochukwu and Bende High Courts, which barred them from conducting the election.
“Incidentally, we have some encumbrances, hitches here and there. Our offices are under locks by NLC, and they went there to chase everyone out. There is no chance that the situation would improve by tomorrow when the election is supposed to be held,” Mkpa said.
He added: “Furthermore, we are expecting that two court orders served us from Arochukwu and Bende barring us fron conducting the election would be vacated. ABSIEC, as a law-abiding commission, would not want to be charged for contempt of court. So, we are waiting for the court order to be vacated.
“We are also hoping that Labour would resolve their issues and allow our workers to return to their offices. As a result of the court injunction, parties have also not come out to purchase forms, and the time is fast moving. Am afraid it’s neither here nor there.”
Abia State Government had in January this year served notice of its intention to conduct local government election before it exits office on May 29, 2023.
Having been mandated to prepare to conduct the said poll, ABSIEC issued a time table, fixing the date for the election on May19, 2023.
First, the proposed LG election was overshadowed by the 2023 general elections.
Then came a string of complaints and rejections on the grounds that the Ikpeazu administration which has just few days of life span should jettison the idea and leave it to the incoming Dr. Alex Otti-led incoming administration to handle.
But Governor Ikpeazu, asked whether he would still conduct the proposed council poll in a recent radio interview, left Abians in suspense by simply replying that the decision was his to take.
Last week, three political parties: Labour Party, Young Progressives Party and All Progressives Grand Alliance, announced their withdrawal from the proposed contest, citing the court injunctions.
Also, a group known as Abia Elders Forum had advised the Ikpeazu government to call off the local government election, describing it as laying landmines for its successor.
As at Thursday evening, political parties and their chieftains were in disarray and uncertain as to whether the Council election would hold or not until Mkpa’s interview permeated the airwaves.
