AWKA— THE Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC)has said that nothing will change the December 18, 2004, Local Government Election date, just as it announced that nine out of the ten political parties that indicated interest to contest the elections have submitted their list of candidates. ANSIEC said that even the state Governor, Dr. Chris Ngige cannot change the date, saying that he was not contacted when the date was fixed. The Commission’s chairman spoke to journalists on the heels of a press conference in Enugu last Wednesday by chairmanship candidates of PDP who passed a vote of no confidence on his commission, saying that the December 18 elections date was not realistic.
The PDP candidates also called on the commission’s chairman, Chief Cornel Umeh, whom they said is Governor Ngige’s maternal uncle to resign his appointment. They arguing that the election time table released by the Commission contradicts some of the provisions in its electoral guidelines. The PDP candidates quarreled with the December 18 election date and December 25 run-off date, saying that they are not realistic dates as the people would be deeply engrossed in Christmas preparations and celebration.
But Umeh, ANSIEC Chairman, at a press conference in Awka described the December 18 date as “sacrosanct” saying that nothing can change it. The commission, he said was committed to that date and assured of conducting ‘a free’, fair and credible Local Government elections for the people of Anambra State". Umeh announced that nine of the ten political parties that had indicated interest to contest the election had submitted their candidates which he acknowledged the receipt.
According to him, the parties whose candidates lists were received include Alliance for Democracy (AD), Justice Party (JP), which Ngige is rumoured to use to field his candidates as result of the lingering problem in his party; Movement for Democracy and Justice (MDJ), All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and PAC. Others are All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), National Conscience Party (NCP) and National Democratic Party (NDP). Only the National Reform Party (NRP) is yet to submit its list.
Umeh also announced that a total of 865 aspirants attended the controversial workshop his commission organized where the chairmanship and councillorship candidates were levied N30,000 and N10,000, respectively. He also announced that his commission would engage the services of over 30,000 Adhoc staff of various categories for the election.
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