“Anambra: Stakeholders Clash with Governor Soludo Over Hasty Local Government Election Plans”
Two and a half years into his tenure, Anambra State Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has scheduled local government elections for September 28, sparking controversy among stakeholders. Opposition politicians and public figures have criticized the rushed timeline, arguing it undermines the credibility of the electoral process.
Soludo’s announcement follows a long hiatus since the last local government elections in January 2014. Critics, including public affairs analyst Tony Okafor and House of Representatives member Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, have expressed concerns about the short notice given to opposition parties, potentially disadvantaging them and compromising the election’s fairness.
Okafor warned that the truncated timeline might disenfranchise many voters and undermine the election’s integrity, urging Soludo to reconsider and ensure a level playing field. Ogene condemned the swift amendments to the state’s electoral laws as tactics to frustrate opposition and stifle grassroots democracy.
In contrast, members of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have supported the move. APGA chieftain Chinedu Obigwe praised the amendments as necessary to prevent federal intervention and ensure local government funding. Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, defended the amendments as essential for modernizing outdated laws and ensuring effective local governance.
As the September 28 election approaches, the debate continues over whether the process will uphold democratic principles or fall prey to political maneuvering.