The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission has unveiled the list of eligible candidates for the upcoming Local Government Elections scheduled for September 28.
On Wednesday, Mrs. Genevieve Osakwe, the Chairperson of ANSIEC, shared this information with reporters in Awka. She advised prospective candidates and members of the public to check the names of candidates at the commission’s headquarters or at any local government office within the 21 local government areas.
Osakwe encouraged the selected candidates to start their campaigns and urged voters to be actively involved, ensuring they cast their ballots for their preferred candidates on September 28, 2024.
She said, “The list of candidates is for public consumption. Everyone is free to visit the commission’s headquarters or any local government area in the 21 LGAs to confirm the names of candidates for individual positions.
“We encourage Ndi Anambra to come out and take part in the election process as it will be free, fair and credible.”
The scheduling and procedures of the local government elections have sparked controversy in the state, with political parties such as the All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, and Labour Party clashing with ANSIEC. They argue that proper protocol was not adhered to.
The three big parties threatened to withdraw from the exercise, citing “irregularities and lopsidedness” in the process.
At a recent stakeholders’ meeting held in Awka on Saturday, the state APC, headed by Chairman Basil Ejidike, declared its decision to withdraw from the local government election, arguing that participating would effectively endorse “legalising illegality”.
The APC claimed that the formation of the ANSIEC and the election date announcement did not adhere to the procedures outlined in the Electoral Act 2022.
Both the PDP and the LP had also threatened to pull out of the process, citing “irregularities and non-adherence to due process.”
It has been over a decade since the last local government elections in Anambra State, with the previous one occurring in 2014.
Consequently, all 21 local government areas in the state have been managed by caretaker transition committee chairpersons appointed by the governor every three months.
