NBA, Opposition Reject Imo State Local Government Elections, Call It A “Mockery of Democracy”
The recently conducted local government election in Imo State has been met with widespread condemnation from the Imo State chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and opposition parties, who have labeled the process a “sham” and an insult to the democratic process.
Speaking over the weekend in Owerri, Chris Ihentuge, the chairman of the Owerri branch of the NBA, described the election as a failure, accusing both the government and the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) of not being prepared for a proper electoral process. “From observation and reports of our committee, the local government election was not an election. It was a sham. It’s a mockery of democracy and an insult to Imo people because no election happened,” Ihentuge told journalists.
He further criticised the ISIEC chairman, Charles Ejiogu, for his handling of the election, calling for his resignation. “We are asking the ISIEC chairman to resign because he doesn’t have the willpower to conduct the election and apologize to Imo people for that insult,” he added. Ihentuge also raised concerns over the failure to inaugurate an Election Petition Tribunal before the election, saying this indicated that the government was not serious about the process.
Opposition parties echoed similar sentiments. John Iwuala, chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), announced plans to challenge the election in court, citing multiple violations. “Apart from violating its guidelines, there were missing materials, officials failed to show up at polling centres, and the list of candidates was never published,” Iwuala stated. He described these lapses as serious infractions that undermined the integrity of the election.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also rejected the election, with its Publicity Secretary, Lancelot Obiaku, denouncing the process as “a rape on democracy.” Obiaku criticized the failure to follow proper procedures and guidelines, insisting that the entire process was flawed.
However, ISIEC Chairman Charles Ejiogu defended the conduct of the election, stating that it followed the commission’s guidelines. “The people have elected their leaders,” Ejiogu said, dismissing claims that the election was not credible.
As controversy continues to surround the election, the NBA and opposition parties have vowed to seek legal redress and hold the electoral commission accountable for what they describe as a failure to uphold democratic standards.
