A governorship aspirant of the Labour Party for next year’s election in Anambra State, John Nwosu, has rejected the proposed local government election by the state independent electoral commission.
Nwosu, in a press release he signed and sent out, described the process as being hasty and purposefully intended to aid the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to capture the grassroots for next year’s election.
He said: “The unbelievably contrived and hurried local government election purportedly scheduled for 28th September 2024 is stranger than fiction.
“The governor is convinced that he can capture the Anambra State judiciary and use them to rubber stamp the election heist he is planning against the wishes of Ndi Anambra, who are ready and willing to participate massively in the local government election.
“We cannot condemn the 2023 general elections in Nigeria as lacking the minimum standards expected of a democratic election and sit by watching the Anambra State local government election head with speed to a worse outcome.
“The planning so far lacks natural justice, equity and good conscience, and if executed as planned, the consequences are likely to make an already volatile security situation in Anambra State worse.
“Accordingly, I, Mr John Nwosu, on behalf of the John Nwosu Campaign Organisation, reject the hurried and spurious amendments to the Anambra State Local Government Election Law crassly done in favour of the incumbent government of Anambra State.”
He noted that the Local Government Election Law, which is guiding the election, has been hurriedly amended twice to achieve a set purpose.
“The two amendments lack content and diligence in legal drafting. Their impact is to meet a set goal known to Ndi Anambra – win via subterfuge all chairmanship and councillorship seats for the incumbent governor of Anambra State, even if the heavens fall.
“This obvious attack on the democratic process by an elected governor who swore to protect and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is based on the jaundiced legal advice that litigation on local government elections begins and ends with the State High Court system, whose welfare depends on the goodwill of the governor.
“The John Nwosu Campaign Organisation wholly and entirely rejects this jackboot mentality to the Anambra State local government election fixed without thorough and comprehensive consultations for the 28th day of September 2024.
“I urge caution on the planners and intended participants to work out a process and modus operandi that will promote trust and unity in Ndi Anambra instead of chaos and further security challenges in our dear state,” he said.