Imo govt told to postpone Saturday’s LG election

Libera Initiative for Civic Engagement, a youth-led advocacy organisation promoting good governance, has called for the postponement of the Imo Local Government Elections scheduled for September 21.

The Executive Director of the organisation, Mr Samuel Ozonna, made the call in a statement issued in Owerri and made available to newsmen on Tuesday. Ozonna stated that the call became necessary “to ensure a fair, transparent, and credible electoral process”.

He stated that the group was concerned about the “significant procedural and administrative deficiencies” on the part of the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC). He listed some of the deficiencies to include the lack of candidate information, inadequate training, poor voter sensitisation, and non-compliance with guidelines.

“As of today, ISIEC has not published the list of candidates for both councillorship and chairmanship positions across the political parties. The commission only commenced validation and verification of candidates today, September 17, with only three days before the election. This omission severely impairs voters’ ability to make informed choices, undermining the democratic process,” he noted.

Ozonna also stated that the group was worried that comprehensive training for both permanent and ad hoc staff, crucial for a smooth exercise, had not been completed. According to him, voter education and sensitisation efforts have been alarmingly insufficient.

“The public has not been adequately informed about the electoral process, which compromises the ability of citizens to participate effectively. ISIEC has not adhered to its own published guidelines for the election as published by the commission in June.

“This deviation from established procedures threatens the integrity of the electoral process and raises concerns about the commission’s commitment to transparency and fairness.

“To safeguard the principles of democracy and ensure that every eligible voter has the opportunity to participate in a well-organised election, we call for an immediate postponement of the election date,” he added.

He urged ISIEC to address the critical issues promptly and transparently to ensure that the electoral process upholds the highest standards of fairness and credibility.

Ozonna stated that the group remained committed to supporting a democratic process that reflects the will of the people. He, therefore, called on all the stakeholders to join in the demand for the postponement of the elections “until these critical concerns are adequately addressed”.