Awka – The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra State has defended its reason for not conducting local government chairmen elections in the state over the years.
Local government elections were conducted last in Anambra in 2014, at the end of former Governor Peter Obi’s 8-year tenure.
The APGA regime of Obi’s successor, Willie Obiano has failed to conduct elections to elect chairmen for the 21Local Government Areas of the state and counselors for the 326 political wards, claiming the development was because of numerous court rulings against the conduct of the exercise.
The Obiano administration had instead recycled Transition Committee Chairmen which it reappoints after their three month-tenure, following the ratification of their appointments by the State House of Assembly.
Many residents of Anambra state, Civil Society Organisations, opposition parties have persistently condemned the practice which they say, does not help to entrench democracy at the grassroots.
Earlier in March, a pressure group, the Movement for the Conduct of Local Government Election in Anambra State, had threatened to deploy every machinery within its capacity to disrupt the November 6 Governorship election in the state, if local government election is not conducted in the state.
The Convener of the Group, Comrade Osita Obi had submitted a warning letter on the proposed plans by the Group, to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the Police and Department of State Security in the state.
Speaking after he submitted the letters, Comrade Obi accused the Obiano administration of only being interested in the allocation for the Council Areas from the Federal Government and the revenue from the council areas, with which he said, it has been able to do nothing.
But, the National Publicity Secretary of the APGA, Barr. Tex Okechukwu, who spoke with our correspondent, defended the decision by the APGA regime, saying the idea behind using Transition committee chairmen, is to hold them accountable.
According to him, elected Chairmen most times abuse their office, embezzle funds and impoverish their people more, while same is not the case with Transition Committee Chairmen.
He said from his political experience, it is even advisable not to conduct local government election in Nigeria, due to impunity they have perpetrated in the past.
“They do what they like and it is because the system is somehow. So it is not a matter of electing somebody and giving them power. I have been in the system and I know that this is what happens, especially in the local government system which is very difficult to monitor,” he said.
Barr Okechukwu argued that Anambra State has fared better with the appointed chairmen than they would have, under the elected chairmen.
“We allowed the Transition Committee Chairman arrangement in Anambra because we know it will favour our people better. You can see the impunity with the elected officer and you will see that it hasn’t really worked in some states where they are,” he said.
Okechukwu went on to defend the APGA regime in the state, claiming that it have done well and stands a better chance of getting reelected in office come November.
The legal practitioner asked the people to stop judging the Obano administration with the poor state of roads in the state, saying the government has done a lot in critical sectors of the state economy that requires commendation.
“It is on record that this government has made agriculture a lucrative business that today, many wealthy Anambrarians are coming back to invest in the agro-sector and the value chain. This is in turn, creating massive employment for our people. We also have the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport that will come on stream soon. These and many more are signature achievements that the Obiano administration will be remembered for. Unfortunately, the opposition will not see them,” he lamented.
