Ahead of the September 21, 2024, council elections in Imo State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) of extorting its candidates. According to the PDP, candidates for councillorship and chairmanship positions are being asked to pay N50,000 and N200,000 respectively for “validation.”
PDP’s CLAIMS
Austine Nwachukwu, the PDP Chairman, disclosed the allegations to newsmen in Owerri. He highlighted several issues, including:
- Unresolved Concerns: During a meeting with ISIEC on August 8, 2024, ISIEC Chairman Chief Charles Ejiogu discussed security concerns raised by state security heads, who doubted the safety of the election given recent violent incidents. However, ISIEC has not provided any updates or further details to the political parties.
- Lack of Communication: PDP criticized ISIEC for not briefing the parties on the election’s conduct, including fees for candidates and the recruitment of ad-hoc staff. The party claims there was no agreement on these issues and no updates have been provided since the meeting.
- Unauthorized Charges: The PDP was alarmed to find a document on social media purportedly from ISIEC, stating that candidates must pay the aforementioned fees for validation. The party decried this as illegal and contrary to ISIEC’s own guidelines.
ISIEC’S RESPONSE
In response, ISIEC Chairman Charles Ejiogu defended the charges, questioning whether there is any legal restriction against ISIEC imposing administrative fees. He noted that in 2023, he personally paid N25,000 for validation during his own councilorship run, suggesting that the practice of charging administrative fees is not unprecedented.
CONCERNS AND IMPACT
The PDP’s allegations raise concerns about fairness and transparency in the upcoming elections. The party’s criticism underscores the need for clarity and adherence to legal and procedural standards in the electoral process.
