LG Polls: Respect Party's Directive, Aspirants Urge Ngige
From Charles Onyekamuo in Awka
Chairmanship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party in Anambra State have asked the state Governor Chris Ngige to abide by the decision of the Party's National Working Committee and conduct council polls within or before the next 90 days.
According to some of the candidates who spoke to This Day separately in Onitsha, "the third-tier of government remains very important as it is the backbone of the democratic process in the country," adding that the governor has nothing to lose if he conducts the election with the list approved by the Party's National Working Committee.
The party had earlier in the week published the Anambra State's list of ratified candidates for the yet to be conducted local government election in some National Dailies.
Dr. Emeka Eze, the party's flagbearer for Onitsha North, who co-ordinates other chairmanship candidates on the party's platform in the state said the consensus of the candidates is that the governor should conduct the local government elections. Democratization of the third-tier of government, he pointed out, will encourage speedy development, adding however that the democratic march in the state is still being inhibited non-conduct of elections to fill the positions of unelective caretaker committees. He said as a result of the scenario, the dividends of democracy are not getting to the people, because council areas in the state are neither empowered nor developed.
To correct the anomaly, Eze said the transition committees must be dismantled. "There have to be elected chairmen in place at the local government areas to manage their funds and relate to the people, "he said.
Barr. Izu Nwankwo, Orumba South Local government chairmanship candidate said the candidates were prepared for the local government election and their supporters were also ready.
He described persons or groups that want the election postponed or wish to challenge the list already approved by the party's NWC as enemies of democracy, as according to him the list was a product of the harmonization by both the governor and the NWC.
According to Patrick Uddoh (Idemili North), the approval of the list shows that PDP is a party of justice that recognizes that they have been suffering and campaigning for the election since 2001. Prince John Emeka said the National headquarters of the party had by the harmonization, saved Anambra people the trauma of double list, adding that they all contested the primaries and won. He said that most local government areas in Anambra State are now moribund. In his Anambra West for instance, health care delivery he said was non-existent.
In Awka South, Dozie Brown Maduka was of the view that conducting the council election on or before the 90 day deadline given to the governor by the NWC will help stabilize Anambra politics, create new hopes for the people, adding that Ngige will lose nothing if he carries every member of the party along and work for the victory of the PDP in the elections.
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