The Labour Party in Anambra State is urging Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo to instruct the State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) to postpone the upcoming local government elections scheduled for September 28, 2024.
The party contends that there is no significant drawback in delaying what they term an “unacceptable and disgraceful” election, advocating instead for a lawful process to be conducted in the near future.
During a press conference held in Awka on Saturday, the party expressed serious concerns regarding the announcement of candidates from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as contenders for the election.
Engr. Theo Egbe, the party’s state publicity secretary, emphasized that the Labour Party did not sell nomination forms for the local government elections and did not conduct any primaries to select candidates.
He criticized the September 28 election as a “mere sham,” stating, “It appears they have held these elections in secret and are now poised to declare the results.”
Barrister Okoli Akirika, the state secretary of the Labour Party, also addressed the media, highlighting the absurdity of the situation. “In the 2023 elections, we encountered the issue of unknown bishops. Now, we are faced with ‘unknown gunmen’, and today, through ANSIEC, we are confronted with ‘unknown candidates’.”
He clarified, “The individuals listed as Labour Party candidates are not affiliated with us, nor were they endorsed by our organization. We have consistently communicated that we are not participating in this election.”
