Enugu: Forum tells ENSIEC not to conduct council polls in October

Former chairmen of political parties in Enugu State under the aegis, Forum of Former State Chairmen of Political Parties, FOSCOPE, has called on the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission, ENSIEC, not to conduct the elections on the set date.

According to the Forum in a statement signed by the Chairman, Hon. Adonys Igwe and the Secretary/DG, Barr. John Nwobodo respectively, to do so will fall short of the Electoral Act that says party primaries and submission of names of candidates for election must be done not less than 180 days.

They submitted that since primaries will end on August 19, according to the amended timetable instead of the earlier February 24, 2024, therefore to conduct the elections will amount to rascality and a waste of the state’s scarce resources.

The aggrieved former party chieftains also want the Federal Allocations accruing to the local governments not to be released until democratically elected leadership are instituted.

They equally sued security agencies not to send their personnel should ENSIEC insists on conducting the elections contrary to the rule of law guiding such elections.

The statement reads in part: “In October 2023, the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) released an Election Timetable and Guidelines whereby it fixed the Local Government Elections for 24th February, 2024. However, by 1st December, 2023, the High Court of Enugu State per Justice C.O. Ajah, Ph.D in a judgment declared that the notice of election was grossly inadequate not being in accord with the 360 days’ notice prescribed in section 28 of the Electoral Act, 2022.

“Therefore, in January 2024 by a public notice, the Commission announced that it has shifted the date of the election to 5th October, 2024. However, the earlier published timetable and guidelines remained intact and operational. On or about 7th March, 2024, the Chairman, Chief Mike Ajogwu, SAN resigned. Subsequently, on or about 29th March, 2024, the Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah through a public service announcement signed the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia appointed Prof. Christian Chidubem Ngwu as the new Chairman alongside 4 new members and re-appointed 3 serving members. The Chairman and members were screened and confirmed by the Enugu State House of Assembly on or about 15th April, 2024.

“The Commission on 17th May, 2024 published an amended timetable abridging time for political parties’ primaries and campaigns contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the judgment of the High Court of Enugu State delivered on 1st December, 2023. Whereas under the original Guidelines, political parties were to conduct their primaries between 11th-22nd December and submit their list of candidates between 18th-19th January, 2024; however, under the amended timetable, political parties are to conduct their primaries between 1st-12th August, 2024 which was later extended till 19th August, 2024 and submit their list of candidates between 25th-30th August, 2024. Thus, under the original guidelines, the cut-off date of 19th January, 2024 for submission of list of candidates falls within the legally prescribed time of not later than 180 days to the date appointed for election pursuant to section 29 of the Electoral Act, 2022. In fact, the latest validity date to submit list of candidates for an election scheduled on 5th October, 2024 is 8th April, 2024. Under the amended timetable which fixed the cut-off date for submission of list of candidates between 25th-30th August, 2024; it means that political parties have to submit their list of candidates from 41 days to the date of the election and ending 36 days to the election.