The Ebonyi state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ebonyi has accused the Independent State Electoral Commission (EBISEC) of bias in the forthcoming Local Government election.

The Chairman of the party in the state, Pst. Eze Nwachukwu Eze, made the accusation on Tuesday while speaking with newsmen in Abakaliki.

Nwachukwu said that the Commission has refused to give the party the election guideline, stating that APC cannot go into election without knowing the rules guiding the exercise.

He said they have gone to EBISEC for more than five times to collect the guideline, and they did not succeed.

A copy of their complain signed by the state chairman which was received by the commission and made available to newsmen stated that the party APC visited the commission on January 25 and 29, February 3rd, 4th, 11th, and 17th.

It reads: “In line with the decision arrived at the interactive meeting with all registered political parties operating in Ebonyi state, held on January 23, 2020, where you made it clear that your commission has scheduled a Local Government chairmanship and councillorship election on April 25, 2020 for the incoming Local Government Administration.

“There, at that meeting, you informed us that the guideline for the election will be ready on the following day being January 24, 2020 and further asked us to come and collect the guideline in the commission.

“We came the following day as directed and repeated the same visits on January 25, 29, February 03, 04, 11, and 17, 2020 and it was not made available to us till this time of writing.

“We therefore demand that the guideline for April 25, 2020 Local Government Chairmanship and Councillorship Elections be made available to us to enable our party participate fully in the forthcoming local government election.

“We further demand that the said guideline be release to all political parties participating in the forthcoming election and in compliance with the relevant provisions of the law to avoid embarking on an exercise in futility.”

Nwachukwu threatened that the party will seek redress in court if the Commission failed to comply with the relevant provisions of the law in conducting the exercise.

He said: “Be reminded sir, that our political party will not accept any breach of the law in the conduct of the forthcoming election. We are therefore foretelling the commission to observe the provisions of the electoral laws guiding the conduct of local government election and councillorship elections in Ebonyi State.”

He claimed that EBISEC not making available the election guideline is a calculated attempt to scheme some political parties out.

Asked if the party is ready for the election, he said they are ready, adding: “Buying form and getting candidates are not our problem because it’s an in-house thing, what we are waiting for is for the guideline to be made available so that we will know the actions to take in order not to default.”

On whether the party will boycott the election, the chairman said they have communicated the development to the party at the national level and they are waiting for their response.

He hinted that as soon as the response is received, they will call for their SEC meeting where they will unveil their position in the exercise.

In his reaction, the EBISEC chairman, Barrister Jossy Eze, said that the guideline is at the commission and that anyone who wants it should visit the commission and get a copy.

“There is no need to apply for election guideline because it is a public document and anybody who wants a copy of the guideline should come to the commission and get a copy. APC is just trying to be funny,” he noted.

Update news