The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State has withdrawn from the local government elections scheduled for September 28, 2024, due to concerns about irregularities.
The party announced its decision on Saturday, stating it would pursue legal action to challenge the election process in court.
The APC cited alleged due process violations that, in their view, compromise the election’s credibility.
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They argued that participating in the election would be equivalent to “legalizing illegality,” pointing to issues with the constitution of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) and the announcement of the election date, which they believe did not adhere to the Electoral Act 2022.
The motion to boycott the election was proposed by APC stakeholders, including Donatus Emecheta, and seconded by Ikunwata Obadike at the party’s stakeholders’ meeting at the state headquarters in Awka on Saturday.
During the meeting, APC State Chairman Chief Basil Ejidike stated that under his leadership, the party would not participate in the election.
He criticized the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) and Governor Professor Chukwuma Soludo, alleging that they were not prepared to ensure the election would be conducted fairly and credibly.
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Ejidike stated, “How can a great party like APC be involved in an election where political parties are not given enough time to conduct primaries to elect their candidates, no campaign rallies, no selling of forms in accordance with the Electoral Act?”
He also alleged that Governor Soludo had established a tribunal at the Anambra State High Court in Awka for political parties seeking to contest the election results.
This, he suggested, indicated that the governor was not transparently working to create a accountable local government system.
“We are already in court to challenge the process because the APC, being the major opposition party in Anambra State, must try as much as possible to lead by example. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party have also gone to court to challenge the irregularities, and we applaud them.”
Ejidike urged party members to stay focused, announcing that the APC would soon embark on a tour of the 21 local government areas to prepare for the 2025 governorship election in the state.
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APC Legal Adviser Chukwunoso Chinweuba added that the party had already filed a case in the High Court challenging the local government election process.
Chinweuba argued that the process was flawed, citing irregularities and inconsistencies between Section 23(1) of the ANSIEC Law 2024, which mandates a 30-day notice, and Section 103(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which requires a 150-day notice.
The meeting also included a moment of silence to honor the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who represented Anambra South Senatorial District.
It is notable that more than a decade has passed since Anambra State last held local government elections, with the most recent 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.
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