The All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Support Group has urged the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) and Governor Alex Otti to ensure fairness in the upcoming local government elections.
This came after the ABSIEC Chairman, George Chima, released the timetable for the elections, setting the stage for the forthcoming polls.
The National Coordinator of the APC Women Support Group, Oluchi Erondu, emphasized the need for transparency in the process. She called on Governor Otti to uphold his principles of justice and fairness, allowing all political parties to participate without intimidation or exclusion.
Erondu noted, “The Abia State Independent Electoral Commission has published a timetable for the 2024 local government elections. The governor has always preached free and fair elections, which played a key role in his own emergence as governor.”
She also highlighted Governor Otti’s rise to power, stressing that his victory in the last general elections as the only Labour Party candidate to secure a governorship was a testament to the will of the people. “The voice of the masses played a significant role in his emergence,” she added.
With concerns about the potential influence of state electoral commissions by governors, Erondu urged Governor Otti to maintain the standards that facilitated his own election.
“As this election approaches, we, the APC Women Support Group, are calling on the governor to ensure the same level of fairness that brought him to power.”
Erondu also encouraged the APC to fully engage in the upcoming elections, stating that active participation is essential for the party to strengthen its presence at the grassroots level.
The call for transparency reflects wider concerns across Nigerian states, where local government elections are often seen as opportunities for ruling parties to assert control. The group’s statement is a push for a more inclusive and democratic process in Abia State.