By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Anambra State branch of the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) has condemned the non conduct of local government election in Anambra State, describing it as unconstitutional and a denial of democracy at the grassroots.

It recalled that the last election was conducted in 2014, saying that it was the only time such exercise held in the state since the inception of the present democratic dispensation on May 29, 1999.

In a statement endorsed by the chairman, Vincent Ezekwueme and Secretary, Chidi Mba, the group urged the state Governor, Willie Obiano to commence processes towards conduct of free, fair and credible local government election.

The group also called on the governor to reconstitute the State Independent Electoral Commission in tandem with the constitution, electoral act and landmark Supreme Court judgment that rightly asserted that Local Government officials must be govern by elected officials.

It observed that appointment of non-elected persons to man the local government institutions breeds corruption, lack of accountability and good governance.

The statement read in part, “It is incredible but existential reality that Anambra State is the only state in the federation that has conducted election once in 11th January 2014 by former governor Peter Obi administration since the inception of current democratic dispensation on May 29, 1999.

“Significantly in more than 21 years of our democratic experience Anambra State has conducted election once and CLO since 2016 since the tenure of last elected local government officials elapsed we have been in the vanguard for agitation for conduct of Local Government election in the state in line with our constitution that election must be periodically conducted at the local government level.

“Worthy of note is that transition committee of Caretaker committee is alien to Nigerian constitution and State House of Assembly should leave no stone unturned to protect, safeguard and defend local government system.

“They should empower and encourage the governor to conduct local government election and desist from continuous extension of tenures of Transition Committee Members.

“It is of great relevance to note that enthronement of democracy at the grassroots will certainly bring governance nearer to the people, reduce unemployment, encourage political participation, adequate harnessing of natural resources and proper utilisation of comparative advantages at local level.

“Most importantly it has retarded and still retarding development and negates the good intentions of military government of then Gen Olusegun Obasanjo in 1976 for establishing reformed Local Government System in Nigeria.”

The group further called on Obiano as a beneficiary of democratic process to spare no effort to enthrone democratic governance at the grassroots as greatest democratic dividends to the grassroots in particular and Anambra State in general.