Ahead of the governorship election in Anambra State, the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety) has expressed concern at political strategies in the state.

It alleged on Friday that the state government and leaders of leading political parties are whimsically and capriciously bent on distorting due processes and procedures capable of visiting the state with disastrous consequences.

Intersociety declared that elections into Anambra Government House and Markets must be inclusive, popular, credible and transparent.

The group made this known in a statement signed by its principals: Emeka Umeagbalasi, Chinwe Umeche, Esq., Chidimma Udegbunam, Esq., and Uju Igboeli, Esq.

On issues of gubernatorial nomination forms, ward delegates and governorship primaries, it alleged APGA, other parties of plots to bend the rules and thwart due processes thereby plunging parties into fractionalization, factionalization and rivalries.

While commending APGA as the State ruling party for not violating the State’s Governorship rotation principle particularly by zoning the seat to Anambra South Senatorial District, the group however expressed concern, describing as selfish, crisis ridden for the political party to trick its governorship aspirants into spending hugely including purchase of nomination forms worth tens of millions of naira, multi million naira worth of billboards and other sundry expenses only for the aspirants to be schemed out at eleventh hour.

Intersociety said, Governor Obiano as the leader of the party will still have the appealing and persuasive capacity to have his choice candidate and potential successor emerge.

On the issue of recent announcement by the outgoing Government of Anambra State of “lifting ban on elections into Anambra Markets,” Intersociety said the development was highly suspicious.

It said that the rationale behind the State Government’s sudden U-turn was caused by her intention to conduct kangaroo and non-inclusive elections by installing Government-appointed caretaker committee chairmen and principal others as “the unopposed elected” chairmen and others adding that it is further aimed at gagging the next Governor and Government of Anambra State and implant such markets with seeds of discord and riotous social relations.

The statement read further: “On the issue of recent announcement by the outgoing Government of Anambra State of “lifting ban on elections into Anambra Markets”, Intersociety is highly suspicious of the State Government’s sudden u-turn. This is more so when we have been called names and accused falsely and hatefully in recent times especially since 2019 for calling on the same Government to openly and credibly democratize Anambra Markets and allow their members free hands to choose their leaders.

“The State, till 2019, had a central market leadership, called “AMATAAS” which claimed to have been elected through ‘electoral college’ and it was dissolved in 2019 by the State Government and replaced with an appointed caretaker called “ASMATA”. At different markets across the State, appointed caretaker arrangements were indiscriminately imposed especially in those where their leadership tenures had ended. Instead of allowing them to hold fresh elections, the Government of Anambra State interfered and imposed caretaker committees. In some cases, elected leaders whose office tenures were still running were unceremoniously removed or booted out. For instance, Gozie Okeke, the elected chairman of Onitsha Main Market, was unceremoniously removed in 2018 by the State Government and replaced with Government appointed caretaker committee which remained imposed on the Market till date.

“The following are the current Market caretaker committee chairmen imposed by the Government of Anambra State in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021: ASMATA, Ikechukwu Ekwegbalu, Onitsha Plastics Market, Bernard Onyebeke, Ogbaru Ogbo-Efere Market, Okechukwu Abanelo, Oba Electrical Market, Chinedu Egbuche, Onitsha Tools and Allied Market, Sylvester Ahanonu, Onitsha Main Market, Kenneth Onyeka, Onitsha Plumbing Materials Market, Chikadodiri Ejiofor, Onitsha Drugs Market, Donatus Ajamma, Ochanja Main Market, Nelson Ojukwu, Onitsha Bridgehead Central Market, Sunday Obinze and Ogbaru Main Market, Ndubuisi Ochiorah. These are just to mention but a few. It is also estimated that half of the State’s 62 major Markets are presently under Government appointed caretaker leadership and plans have been concluded to return their chairmen as “unopposed” through kangaroo elections. At Ogbunike Building Materials Market election that took place few days ago the State Government appointed caretaker committee chairman, Jude Nwankwo, was returned as “unopposed” alongside others loyal to him as members of his executive committee.

“The gagging of these markets by the Government of Anambra State is also dotted with favoritism, nepotism and cronyism. Those appointed as ‘Caretaker Committee Chairmen’ in various markets by the Government of Anambra State through its Ministry of Commerce and Wealth Creation, presently headed by Mr. Uche Okafor (Wiper), are given three months, or six months, or one year tenure and this is remotely done with a price running into millions of naira, renewable with same and nonstop so long as ‘they are capable’.

“The named Commissioner, the Governor’s senatorial kinsman, is also reported to have been penciled down for the post of ‘Deputy Governorship Candidate to Prof Charles Soludo’.

“At Onitsha Drugs Market, plans have been concluded to return some of its caretaker committee principal officers including head of the committee as “unopposed” through a discredited election using discreditable delegate lists instead of ‘Line Registers’. This month of June 2021 marks one year of the one year tenure given by the State Government to the 57-man caretaker committee in the Market. During the Market’s Government aborted 2020 electioneering, candidates were heavily extorted by the State Government to the tune of tens of millions of naira including forcing their chairmanship candidates to pay N250,000 each, secretarial candidates N200,000 each, vice chairmanship candidates N150,000 each and others N50,000 each, for ‘interest forms’ and mandatory payment of three years tax, three years tax clearance by chairmanship candidates.”

The group called on the Anambra State Government to rescind its decision to impose “leaders” on various Markets in the State.

While appealing to the State delegates of leading political parties to toe the line of APGA by respecting and upholding the Governorship zoning principle and choosing their Governorship candidates from Anambra South Senatorial District, it said APGA’s core stakeholders including Governor William Obiano must shift grounds and close ranks so as to engage the Independent National Electoral Commission to resolve their differences.

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