Imo LG Elections: Owerri NBA Lambasts ISIEC Chairman …Calls for his resignation

ThankGod EMEH…

The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Owerri branch has condemned in totality “the broad daylight deceit, and misconduct” of Imo State Independent Electoral Commission, ISIEC for their role in the disenfranchisement and illegality surrounding the acclaimed local government council elections in the state, while expressly calling for the immediate resignation of the ISIEC Chairman, Chief Charles Ejiogu for “raping democracy”.

The Owerri branch NBA stated this in her monthly meeting held at the Owerri Magistrate’s Court Complex on Saturday, October 5, 2024, following a committee’s assessment report of the elections.

Addressing newsmen, the NBA Owerri branch Chairman, Barrister Chris Ihentuge Esq said “What took place in the State on 21st September 2024 as LG election was nothing but a total sham, charade, mockery, and rape of democracy as both the state government ànd ISIEC were not ready for any election”

Barr. Ihentuge decried that the LG election was a pure waste of the state resources and called on ISIEC headman, Chief Ejiogu, to apologize to Imolites.

“We condemn the act and everything that happened on that day because they wasted Imolites’ time and state resources in the name of conducting elections.

“We call on ISIEC Chairman, Chief Charles Ejiogu to resign for he does not have the willpower to conduct the election …He should resign and apologize to Imo people for taking them for granted”

Barr Ihentuge, however,decried the level of impunity at which the acclaimed election was conducted while wondering about the unusual calmness of political parties and candidates after the fraudulent outing.

“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 arrangement, we should be notified, Barr.Ihentuge stressed’.

Other members of the association who added their voices, stressed that the said election was the height of disgrace from the powers that be, adding that there was no election since there were no procedural guidelines, rules and regulations for the exercise right from the onset as “there were no adverts, gingles, and campaigns among others to enlighten the general public”

It would be recalled that the ISIEC Chairman, Chief Charles Ejiogu had assured Imolites of conducting a free, fair, and credible election across boards even when the Owerri Branch Chairman of NBA, Chris U. Ihentuge, Esq., alongside the Secretary of the Barr, Daniel O. Odiba, Esq., and a member of the Barr Ike Augustine, on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, visited ISIEC office to ascertain the preparedness of the commission to conduct the LG election on democratic expectations.