The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) has published the list of qualified candidates for the state’s upcoming Local Government Elections scheduled for September 28, 2024.
Mrs. Genevieve Osakwe, Chairman of ANSIEC, made the announcement in Awka on Wednesday. She urged prospective candidates and interested individuals to visit the commission’s headquarters or any of the 21 local government offices to verify the names of candidates for various positions.
Osakwe emphasized the importance of public participation, encouraging Anambra residents to actively engage in the electoral process and vote for their preferred candidates. She assured the public that the elections will be conducted in a free, fair, and credible manner.
However, the election process has faced controversy. Major political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party (LP), have raised concerns about alleged irregularities and procedural lapses. These parties have threatened to withdraw from the elections, citing issues such as the alleged unconstitutional formation of ANSIEC and the timing of the election announcement.
The APC, led by its chairman Basil Ejidike, has specifically criticized the process as “legalizing illegality” and questioned whether the election schedule complies with the Electoral Act 2022. The PDP and LP have echoed similar concerns.
It has been over a decade since Anambra State last held local government elections, with the previous one occurring in 2014. Since then, all 21 local government areas have been managed by caretaker transition committee chairmen appointed by the governor every three months.
