Concerns are mounting among chairmanship and councillorship aspirants over the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming local government election in Imo State.
Despite the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) announcing September 21, 2024, as the date for the polls, aspirants who have been waiting for the polls since 2018 are expressing mixed feelings.
The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in the State had lamented that ISIEC has not officially communicated the election date to political parties, which violates the electoral law.
Leading opposition parties, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and Labour Party, LP, have expressed strong concerns over the lack of notification, with APGA Chairman John Iwuala describing the situation as “unacceptable”.
ISIEC’s failure to publicly release guidelines and modalities for the polls has added to the uncertainty, leaving aspirants in the dark.
The Commission’s silence on whether to use INEC or ISIEC wards for the polls has further complicated the situation.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had announced its non-participation in the polls, while some aspirants in other political parties have lost confidence in the process.
Aspirants who purchased Expression Of Interest Forms as far back as 2018 in some political parties are frustrated, with one chairmanship aspirant from Isu LGA stating that ISIEC has consistently played on aspirants’ emotions for years.
He added that the lack of political will from key players and stakeholders has cast a shadow over the election’s feasibility.
Most aspirants who spoke anonymously to INNONEWS urged ISIEC to provide more clarity and transparency to ensure a credible and successful election.
They fear another possible postponement or cancellation due to the uncertainty surrounding the polls.
ISIEC Chairman, Charles Ejiogu, had in a statement while announcing the date of the election, stated that “election guidelines and other details can be collected from the headquarters of Imo State Electoral Commission in Owerri”