Abia LG Elections: Fears Over Neutrality Of Electoral Umpire

The capacity of the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) to conduct free and fair local government elections is now a major concern for opposition political parties in the state.

The date for the conduct of the elections have remained shrouded in secrecy while many feared that the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party government may be plotting to rig the elections in its favour.

A letter addressed to the Abia State governor, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, by the Chairman of ABSIEC, Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa, a copy of which is in possession of THE WHISTLER, has further heightened suspicion that the governor may be planning to compromise the elections.

Some political leaders in the state, who had seen and read the content of the letter, have been left wondering whether the commission would be capable of resisting attempts to arm-twist it.

The letter, dated September 2,2020, addressed Governor Ikpeazu as “Dear Esteemed Governor” and was signed off by the chairman with ” Most Respectfully Submitted” giving the impression that the commission was at the mercy of the governor.

If anyone was in doubt about how the state governor could compromise the election, the content of the letter would clear all doubts.

Instead of the commission dictating its own schedules for the elections, the chairman is requesting the governor to give a date for the elections.

The letter, with the heading “Scheduling of LGA Elections: Another Reminder stated” in a highly patronizing tone reminded the governor of its earlier letter dated 29th July, 2020 on the schedules for the LGA elections in the state which the governor did not reply.

The chairman therefore pointed to the governor that opposition parties who would participate in the election ought to be given 90 days to prepare “… if the Local Government Elections must not be faulted. We wish to inform you sir that if the elections must hold in the first week of December 2020, then ABSIEC must issue a statement to that effect in the course of this week.”

The chairman of ABSIEC also asked the governor if he authorized “ABSIEC to believe that the elections will certainly hold in December, so that we could proceed to announce to the political parties accordingly.”

Some opposition figures who spoke to this website on condition of anonymity bemoaned the patronizing manner the ABSIEC chairman was going about his duties.

“The commission cannot be independent when they have to take instructions about conduct of election from the governor whose party will participate in the election. Moreover, the governor can compromise ABSIEC by dictating to them,” the chairman of an opposition party said.