The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Imo State chapter has explained why it will boycott Saturday’s local government election in the State.
The party in a statement signed by Damian Opara, Publicity Secretary of the party, the PDP said it is staying away from the polls because the Rochas Okorocha administration has refused to heed to the advice of the Supreme Court in the matter between the State Government and ALGON that both parties should main status quo pending the determination of a suit before it on the matter.
Governor Rochas Okorocha had on assumption of office in 2012 sacked the 27 Local Government chairmen elected on the platform of the PDP.
The Chairmen and Councillors had proceeded to the courts challenging their sack even before the expiration of their tenure.
This led to legal cross fire between the LGA chairmen and the State Government which has lingered in the last seven years.
The party also said it is not comfortable with the antecedents of ISIEC.
Part of the statement reads:
“The Peoples Democratic Party Imo State Chapter having authoritatively reviewed the antecedence of the APC government under Governor Rochas Okorocha with regard to local government council elections since he assumed office as the governor of Imo State from 2011 till date, and the “ADVICE” given by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the matter between Imo State government and ALGON Imo State, that both parties should maintain the status quo pending the determination of the suit at the Supreme Court, we hereby state categorically, that the PDP Imo State Chapter shall not participate in the purported local government council election coming up on Saturday, 25th August, 2018, as it is not only fraudulent, but an affront to Imo electorates.
“Furthermore, the PDP Imo State Chapter, having also viewed the recent activities of ISIEC with regard to the said election, sees ISIEC as not independent and as such, being an appendage of the APC government under Governor Rochas Okorocha cannot really conduct any election talk less of a credible, free and fair election in Imo State.
The PDP called on its members to ignore the polls scheduled for August 25, 2018 on the grounds that “our great party is not and shall not be part of the so- called local government council election”
