Revamping Imo Local Government System: ISIEC Reaffirms Conducting LGA Election in December

By Chidi Onyemeziriuwa

To make the rural dwellers gain from the dividends of democracy which had been denied them over 12 years, Imo State Independent Electoral Commission, ISIEC, has reaffirmed conducting local government election in the state in December, 2019.

Addressing members of political parties in the state on Thursday at the Eze Imo’s Palace, Owerri, ISIEC Chairman, Barrister Julius Onyenaucheya assured that ISIEC laws and guidelines on conduct of local government election in the state would be duly followed, just as His Excellency, Emeka Ihedioha had earlier vowed.

Onyenaucheya, who charged all existing political parties in the state to brace up and prepare themselves for the local government poll which he said is going to be free, fair and transparent, cautioned against election malpractice and malfeasance.

“We know what to do to correct past anomalies in the conduct of Imo State local government election in order to move forward. Political parties should effectively move into the field and work accordingly if they must win election. Governor Emeka Ihedioha has given us six months to hold the election, and we are going to work within the time frame. ISIEC is assuring Imolites of a level playing ground, we are setting good example in line with the directives of the governor, who believes in due process, free and fair election”, he said.

The ISIEC boss insisted that no party or individual is going to be shortchanged in the LGA poll stressing that the election guidelines will be followed accordingly.

“There are guidelines on which election results would be announced. We shall not deny any winner victory”, Barrister Onyenaucheya added.

Appreciating ISIEC for the meeting, Chairman of Imo State Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC who is also the SA to the governor on Inter Party Affairs, Beneth Duru, said the political parties will conduct themselves orderly as the law stipulates so that the state could witness a free and fair LGA poll.

Some members of Nigeria People’s Congress, NPC, Young Progressive Party, YPP, National Element People’s Party, NEPP and more who were at the meeting regretted that for the past 10years, there have never been local government elections, but thanked the PDP administration for restoring the confidence of the rural dwellers who have been denied better living opportunities as a result of the highhandedness of the immediate past government with the assurance for the prompt conduct of local government election in Imo State.

Chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Samuel Ohiri and many other well meaning Imolites participated in the briefing by ISIEC.