- Ihedioha Reasures On Holding Polls “As Soon As Possible”
There is no going back in the conduct of local government election in Imo State. Feelers had emerged the polls will hold in December 2018.
Imo State Governor, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha gave the assurance in his broadcast to celebrate Nigeria’s 59 years independence anniversary.
“As you are aware, one of the foundations of democracy is the participation of the people, at every tier of governance, in the choice of who governs them. We are, therefore giving expression to independence by ensuring the devolution of power to the local governments
” Consequently, in no distant time, our people would go to the polls, after a long while, for a free, fair and credible election at the local governments” he said.
The Imo State Independent Electoral Commission, ISIEC, is expected to hold the election in December.
It had began the process that will lead to the conduct of the polls after the State Electoral umpire, Imo State Independent Electoral Commission, ISIEC was reconstituted.
If the election eventually holds in December as planned, it will be the first time in the past 16 years local governments elections were held at the inception of a new administration in Imo State.
Previous administrations in the State led by Ikedi Ohakim and Rochas Okorocha, held local government elections during the ending days of their administration.
While Ohakim administration held the polls in August 2010, a year to the 2011 governorship elections, which he later lost, Rochas Okorocha conducted the polls barely some months to his exit from office on May 29, 2019.
Analysts contend that Governor Ihedioha will go down in history as the first State Governor to hold local government elections in the State barely a year in office.
He had assured that he is commiteed to the democratization of the local governments, having constituted an Interim Management Commitee, and ensured financial autonomy to the Councils.
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