The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Imo State has strongly condemned Saturday’s local government election, describing it as an “open robbery” and “rape of democracy” perpetrated by undemocratic forces.
The party said it will go to court to compel the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Allocation Commission, RMFAC, to cease monthly allocation to the 27 local governments.
John Iwuala, APGA’s State Chairman, made this assertion at a stakeholders’ meeting comprising chairmanship and councillorship candidates at the party’s headquarters in Owerri.
He also said APGA plans to challenge ISIEC’s infractions in court.
Iwuala emphasized that there was no local government election in the state, citing the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission’s (ISIEC) violation of its guidelines prior to the polls.
“Apart from violating its own guidelines, there was absence of materials, failure of officials to show up at polling centers, failure to publish the list of candidates and their particulars, and failure to provide a window for substitution of candidates, among other infractions,” he stated.
He further alleged that ISIEC colluded with the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC to impose their surrogates as Local Government Chairmen and Councillors in the 27 local governments and 305 wards.
“We will resist this open robbery and rape of democracy. We would challenge this matter in court,”
We will approach the Elections Petition Tribunal, where we will present our case that no local government election took place in the State” Iwuala declared.
He also announced that party would demand a refund of monies collected from candidates and reiterated APGA’s commitment to resisting electoral malpractices.
Some Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates at the meeting gave reports of electoral malpractices from their various local governments.
Hon. Emenike B. Okwudii, a Chairmanship candidate, reported that there was no election in Ideato South Local Government Area.
“They came with electoral materials but no result sheet. There were no presiding officers or polls clerks,” he stated
Similar reports emerged from Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA, where Chief Ugochukwu Uche reported that no election took place, and Isiala Mbano, where Chief Sharon Ohaka confirmed no election occurred.