The local government chairmanship and councilorship elections slated to take place in Abia State may be unable to hold due to court orders restraining the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC).
According to Media Talk Africa, a stroll around electoral wards and polling units in Umuahia, the state capital, showed no evidence of election personnel or materials, therefore indicating that the exercise may not hold.
The chairman of ABSIEC, Prof Mkpa Agu Mkpa, lamented that his office is encumbered by restraining orders from courts and the ongoing workers’ strike in the state. Speaking on a program in an Umuahia-based radio station, he said the commission has not been able to vacate court orders stopping the exercise. Adding that the court injunctions have discouraged many aspirants from purchasing expression of interest forms.
“Furthermore,” Mkpa said, “we are expecting that two court orders served to us from conducting the election will be vacated. ABSIEC as a law-abiding commission would not want to be charged for contempt of court.”
Some critics of the exercise, including the Young Progressive Party (YPP), have described the exercise as not backed by law and a waste of resources. YPP has announced that the party will not participate in the polls and advised its members and supporters to shun it.
However, some aspirants from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who bought forms have been left in confusion after paying non-refundable fees to purchase the forms. Among the PDP hopeful that bought forms was Hon Ikedi Ezekwesiri who wanted to contest for Chairman of Umunnochi LGA. Ezekwesiri, a two-time House of Assembly member in the state, had in April vowed to contest the polls and had advised the incoming administration of Alex Otti against dissolving elected local government executives.
It would be recalled that a Bende High Court had in April, ordered Mkpa to stop parading himself as the Chairman of ABSIEC. Similarly, an Arochukwu court, presided over by Justice Benson Anya, restrained ABSIEC from going ahead with the local government elections. The applicant in the Arochukwu High Court suit, one Nwabueze Onwuneme, had stated that the election, if conducted, would be a waste of public funds.
With court orders restraining ABSIEC, it is uncertain when the local government chairmanship and councilorship elections in Abia State will hold. Meanwhile, it remains to be seen how the striking workers will affect future election plans.
