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Tag: ANSIEC

  • APC battles Soludo, ANSIEC over planned council polls in Anambra

    APC battles Soludo, ANSIEC over planned council polls in Anambra

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), has threatened to sue the Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, and the state Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) over the planned council polls.

    The Anambra State APC Chairman, Chief Basil Ejidike, disclosed this at the party’s headquarters in Awka Saturday, while briefing reporters.

    He said the party was waiting for the decision of the Inter-Party Adversary Committee (IPAC), concerning the planned election, adding that the state government and ANSIEC had something they were hiding from the electorate and the political parties

    He said, “APC’s position is that we’re prepared to participate in the election if a level playing ground is provided

    “If ANSIEC continues in their quest to legitimize illegality, the party will not hesitate to do the needful. We’re working in tandem with IPAC in Anambra State.”

    Read Also; Acquiescent National Assembly not helping democracy

    Continuing, Ejidike said, “There should be a level playing field for all the political parties because we’re not expecting any angel to do it for us.

    “But we want a fair and credible LG election. We’re yet to be convinced that the state government is ready. They’ve not given us any evidence that they’re ready.

    “Look at the first ANSIEC meeting of stakeholders and we ask, what’s their gain? They’re not partnering with the political parties, except APGA.

    “ANSIEC is up to something and it is wrong. The implication is that the parties are not considered in whatever they’re doing. There are also various amendments by the lawmakers thereby shifting the goalpost.

    “The questions are, who signs the forms, is it not the duty of political parties? Everything was done to suit the state government. The parties should be expected to sell forms, campaign and present candidates etc, within the same 30 days, address issues arising from such excercise, this is ridiculous.

    “There’s also no room for review of the voter’s register. How can we go on to conduct the election with these hanging issues?” APC Chairman asked.

  • Council boss jailed three months

    The Chairman of Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, Mr. Chigozie Awugosi, was yesterday jailed three months by a High Court at Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government.

    The court was presided over by Justice Chudi Peter Obiora.

    Awugosi was sentenced for disobeying a court order and would serve the imprisonment with hard labour.

    Justice Obiora said after reviewing the case and the defence of the counsel to Awugosi, he had no doubt that the conduct of the respondent/appellant was contemptuous.

    Said he: “The result is that I find the appellant/respondent guilty of contempt.

    “I, accordingly, sentence him to three months with hard labour.

    “There shall be no option of fine.”

    Justice Obiora said the court had inherent power under Section 6(6)(b) of the 1999 Constitution to make consequential orders.

    “Accordingly, I hereby order the convict to refund the money collected and/or received by him by way of salary and allowances from June 19 to date to the Anambra State Government.”

    The local government tribunal on June 19 nullified the council election held in January, which produced Awugosi as the chairman.

    The tribunal also ordered the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) to conduct a fresh election based on the application brought by Mr. Golden C. Iloh.

    Awugosi, however, appealed to the state High Court, which upheld the decision of the tribunal, but he did not vacate office as directed by the court, hence an application of contempt of court by Iloh’s counsel.

  • PPA guber candidate blasts ANSIEC over council polls in Anambra

    THE Governorship candidate of the Progressives Peoples’ Alliance (PPA) in the November 16, 2013 election in Anambra State, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo ,said yesterday that the January 11,2014 local government election in the state was nothing short of a mess. He blamed the State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) for conducting what he described as a flawed election. Mr.Ezeemo, on a courtesy visit to the office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka said that the annulment of the elections in Ihiala and some parts of Ayamelum by the elections petition tribunal in the state was an indication that there was no voting . He said: “as a major stakeholder, I will say that there was no election in Anambra and the events in the court go to confirm that”. “People were deceived by candidates being handpicked against their wishes which has become the norm in Nigeria politics”. “For how long will this be? I hope this will be the last because they did it in Enugu, Imo and some states in the country”. “We must not imitate what is wrong, it is a pure deceit and a rape of democracy, we did not have local government election here.’’

  • ANSIEC yet to pay ad hoc workers

    Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) is yet to pay the ad hoc workers engaged for the council election over two months ago.

    Some of them, who spoke with The Nation yesterday in Awka, said the commission had not paid them.

    Over 12,000 ad hoc workers were engaged for the poll.

    Since the election, the Acting Chairman, Mr. Sylvester Okonkwo, has been ill and could not speak to The Nation yesterday.

    But a senior worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the non-payment, saying arrangements were being made to pay them.

    He said: “I’m not competent to speak on the matter, only the acting chairman can comment. But he has been ill.

    “We have been compiling names of the workers and they will soon be paid.”

    The workers, who preferred anonymity, described the delay as unfortunate.

    They said: “How long are we to wait for our payment? This is not what they told us. Is it after we would have died of hunger that they would pay us?”

  • APGA, Labour Party clash in Nnewi North repeat election

    APGA, Labour Party clash in Nnewi North repeat election

    •ANSIEC forced to cancel election

    The rescheduled local government election by the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) has been cancelled for the second time in a week following violent clashes by the two political parties in the area.

    The parties are the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Labour Party (LP).

    As at 9am yesterday, all the electoral materials had reached the venues for the council polls, while security operatives were on ground to forestall any impending danger.

    The council election was first called off on January 11th, following the non availability of materials and violence that marred the election in Nnewi North.

    As a result, the Acting Chairman of ANSIEC, Hon. Sylvester Okonkwo, cancelled the election and rescheduled it for yesterday, yet to no avail.

    The contest was between Okey Offor of APGA and LadyIfeoma Ofodeme of Labour Party for the Chairmanship seat of Nnewi North.

    However, after sharing the materials for the election yesterday, members of the Labour Party began protests, alleging that APGA had already decided on who to declare winner even without the election.

    As a result, members of the two parties went on rampage by scattering election materials and holding the adhoc staff of ANSIEC hostage in the presence of security operatives.

    Though at Uru ward, Umudim, the situation was a little under control, members of the two parties were not calm but rather threatening fire and brim stone if the election was allowed to hold, which forced ANSIEC to call off the election until further notice.

  • Council poll: APC heads for Appeal Court

    Council poll: APC heads for Appeal Court

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has gone to the Appeal Court in Enugu State to challenge the dismissal of its motion to stop the January 11 local government election in Anambra State.

    The case was dismissed at the Federal High Court, Awka.

    The party, which earlier backed out of the election on the grounds of fake voter register and non-publication of the list of candidates, prayed for the following reliefs:

    An order compelling the first defendant (Independent National Electoral Commission-INEC) to reverse the voter register and display same for public scrutiny.

    An order of perpetual injunction restraining the second defendant (Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission-ANSIEC) from conducting the election scheduled for January 11 or at any other date until the the issues raised in the originating summons have been addressed.

    APC also sought an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the first and second defendants, their servants, agents or privies from conducting or organising the election on January 11 or at any date pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons dated January 6.

    The party’s Interim Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr. Chukwuma Agufugo, said in a statement in Awka yesterday:

    “You are aware that the registered parties in the state, with the exception of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), agreed at the Marble Arch Hotel, Awka, on January 6, not to participate in the election.

    “Events in the state on Saturday justified our position and the indigenes complied with our decision not to take part in the election.

    “Government and ANSIEC’s show of shame has vindicated us.

    “When our party opted out, we told Nigerians that starting from a bad voter register, to non-display of the three variants of register they intend to use and non-publication of the names of candidates, ANSIEC was poised to rig the election.

    “What was witnessed on Saturday- absence of electoral officials and materials in 90 per cent of the booths, late arrival of same in the few wards without result sheets, meant the selection process was concluded days before Anambra people were called out.

    “We wish to inform candidates, aspirants and opposition parties that we are heading for the Appeal Court to get this undemocratic misdemeanour corrected.”

  • 20 council chairmen take the oath

    20 council chairmen take the oath

    A Twenty elected council chairmen and their deputies were sworn in yesterday at the Conference Hall in Government House, Awka, Anambra State.

    They collected their certificates of return from the Acting Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), Mr. Sylvester Okonkwo, at its headquarters in Awka.

    The ceremony was witnessed by chairmen of the 19 parties, amid dancing and drumming.

    Addressing the chairmen and deputies, Governor Peter Obi, who recalled that the last council poll was conducted in December 1998, assured that the constitution and electoral laws would be followed and the poll would be conducted every two years.

    He said the local government system remained a critical component of the state and country, noting that his administration rebuilt and transformed the third tier of government and strengthened the town unions.

    The lawmaker representing Anocha, Dunukofia and Njikoka, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, described the poll as one of the achievements of the Governor Obi administration.

    Speaking for the 19 parties, state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mr. Kenneth Emeakayi hailed Obi for his courage and will to conduct the election after 16 years.

    Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Mr. Peter Afuba said the poll and swearing in followed the constitution and electoral laws.

    Commissioner for Local Government Affairs Mrs. Azuka Enemuo urged the new administration to improve the life of the people.

    Speaking for others, Chairman ofOyi Local Government Mr. Uchenna Okafor,said they would live up to expectation.

  • Council poll: APGA members vow to vote against party

    •Stakeholders’ meeting ends in deadlock

    •ANSIEC distributes non-sensitive materials

    ALL Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidates, whose names were substituted after the primary for the January 11 local government election in Anambra State, have vowed to mobilise their supporters against the party.

    They said they were aggrieved because the APGA leadership dropped them after winning the August 17 primary.

    A stakeholders’ meeting at the Governor’s Lodge at the weekend ended in a deadlock.

    A source, who spoke to The Nation yesterday, said the leaders urged the dropped candidates to support those selected.

    The source said members protested against the party’s decision to drop the candidates, who won the primary election.

    Some protesting councils included Orumba South, Anaocha, Awka South, Awka North, Nnewi South, Ihiala, Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Dunukofia and Njikoka.

    Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) yesterday began the distribution of non- sensitive material, including ballot boxes.

    One of the chairmanship candidates of the Labour Party (LP) in Awka South, Ozo Uche Ifediorah, was sighted yesterday with party members at its office in Awka South finalising his campaign.

  • ANSIEC postpones council polls again

    •Party chairmen demand compensation

    •APGA absent at meeting

    For the fourth time this year, the Anambra State Independent Electoral commission (ANSIEC) has postponed the local government election scheduled for December 21. No new date has been fixed.

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was absent at the meeting of the Inter Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC) held at the commission’s office yesterday, but other party chairmen were present.

    IPAC was led by Prince Kenneth Emeakayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while the deputy chairman was the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) Chief Amechi Obidike.

    The secretary of the group was Mr. Sam Oraegbunam of the Labour Party (LP). Mr. Chuba Ikeagwu of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) was the public relations officer.

    Prince Emeakayi and his colleagues demanded the refund of the campaign and electoral expenses incurred by each party when preparing for the election and the collateral damages.

    The resolutions taken by the parties included: “That the idea to suspend or postpone the December 21 Local Government Election for any reason whatsoever, is unacceptable to the parties in Anambra State”.

    “That we view the screening of our candidates as scheduled by ANSIEC as divisionary and distractive as the commission is not entitled by any law to embark on such an exercise”.

    “That ANSIEC has no power under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) or the relevant electoral laws to reject or disqualify candidates, whose names were submitted to the commission by the parties”.

    “That ANSIEC is reminded that the council poll was originally scheduled for October 5 by the present commission before it was postponed to December 14 and further postponed to December 21 by the commission”.

    “That parties in Anambra State shall deploy legal means to resist any attempt to continue to deny the indigenes the opportunity of local government administration by the elected representatives as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution”.

    ANSIEC Commissioner Mr. Sylvester Okonkwo said the cancellation of the local government election was caused by non-availability of complete voter register.

    He said any other date taken by ANSIEC must be sacrosanct, adding that the scheduled December 12 date was no longer realisable.

    Okonkwo said no electoral body had power to disqualify a candidate, adding that the commission would hold a meeting today to decide when the poll would come up.

    He hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for sending 20 persons to work on the voter register, while ANSIEC, according to him, sent additional 21 electoral officers to assist.

    Parties have urged ANSIEC not to allow APGA to present new candidates for the council poll.

    Speaking on behalf of the chairmen, Emeakayi told ANSIEC members that they had it on good authority that APGA was the cause of the postponements, as the party was still shopping for new candidates when other parties had submitted their lists.

    He said: “We appeal to the commission that parties should be treated equally. What APGA is doing, if it is true, is an aberration. APGA should be restricted to the list of its candidates elected during its primaries in August.

    “Any contrary thing, Mr. Chairman, will not be accepted by other parties. We don’t want to be at daggers drawn with the commission.”