AWKA—CHAIRMAN of Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), Chief Cornel Umeh has vowed to resign his appointment if the state government tries in any way to interfere with the commission’s duties in the process of conducting the Local Government Elections scheduled for December 18, 2004. Umeh said he would resist any interference from the government in the course of discharging his duties as ANSIEC chairman. The commission, he said, would rather “sincerely be guided by the provisions of the enabling laws in the conduct of the forthcoming elections”.
Umeh, who addressed weekend, members of the political parties operating in Anambra State on the preparationof the commission for the local government elections, warned that his commission should be given a free hand to operate. He also warned that his commission would not condone “indiscipline and flagrant abuse of the State Electoral Laws 2000”.
The ANSIEC chairman urged the political parties to “eschew political violence, thuggery and electoral fraud. Let me state unequivocally that this commission is committed to conduct free, fair, reliable and acceptable local government elections in Anambra State come December 18, 2004. As an unbiased umpire, the commission will provide a level-playing field to the 30 registered political parties wishing to contest the local government council elections in the state. The forthcoming local government elections in Anambra State should be conducted with love and amity. It is very sad to note that even ordinary soldier ants select their leaders in a peaceful manner, we 'homosapiens' cannot select our leaders in a peaceful manner during elections. This got to stop.” I want to state clear, as I have done in my various statements both at the ANSIEC headquarters, press briefings, and during the sensitzation tour of the 21 Local Government Areas,that I will resist totally, any interference and resign my appointment if I am not given free hands to operate. The commission will sincerely be guided by the provisions of the enabling laws in the conduct of the forthcoming elections.
"The commission, as a neutral body, is not an appendage to any political party. Therefore, all the 30 registered political parties are encouraged to feel free to interact with the commission on any issues bothering on the conduct of the forthcoming elections,” Umeh said.
To the politicians present at the meeting, the ANSIEC boss said; "Let me use this opportunity to stress that it is the responsibility of the political parties to present credible candidates for the forth-coming local government council polls. The commission is not interested in the internal wranglings of any political party.
"Therefore, political parties should endeavour to put their houses in order.” Let me further warn that this commission will not tolerate or condone indiscipline and flagrant abuse of the Electoral Laws 2000. Politicians should eschew political violence, thuggery and electoral fraud. The use of foot soldiers to disrupt elections, cart away ballot boxes, intimidate, harass, maim, kill opponents and wanton destruction of lives and properties should never rear its head again in Anambra State Local Government Council Polls. You should advise your numerous members and supporters that such unwholesome behaviour should be a thing of the past”, the chairman charged the parties.
Nine political parties attended the meeting where the time-table and guidelines for the elections were released to them.The parties were Alliance for Democracy (AD), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Justice Party (JP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), PAC, NDP, National Conscience Party (NCP) and MDJ.
