An advocacy group in Anambra, called
Anambra Civil Society Network (ACSONet), has urged Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to fix a timeline for the proposed local government elections in the state.
Chairman of the group, Mr Chris Azor, who commended the Governor for setting up the commission, described it as a step in the right direction towards the conduct of the council polls in the Anambra State, 10 years after the last council election in the State in 2014.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka, on the inauguration of the Anambra Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) by Governor Soludo, Azor said the civil society was excited about the constitution of the board, describing the inauguration of the Board as a promise kept by Soludo.
It would be recalled that the Anambra Governor inaugurated a six-member ANSIEC Board with Magistrate Chinelo Genevive Osakwe as Chairman.
Other members of the board are Mrs Bernardine Obande, Mr Osita Igbokwe, Mr Chinedu Nnalue, Mrs Ifeyinwa Umeh and Mr Emeka Okeke.
“This team will play a crucial role in setting the stage for local government elections and ensuring the smooth, peaceful, and transparent conduct of polls in our beloved Anambra State,” Soludo had said.
According to Azor, the non conduct of local government elections for over a decade had left a huge gap in democratic practice and development process in the state but with the inauguration of the ANSIEC Board, a new chapter has been opened for democratic governance in Anambra State.
“We commend Mr Governor for living up to his campaign promise by setting up the Anambra Independent Electoral Commission,” Azor stressed.
“It is a promise kept, it is in line with our sustained advocacy for cascading democracy to the grassroots level.
“Anambra has suffered a worrisome delay in the conduct of local government elections for over 10 years.“
