35 Civil Society Organizations Demand Cancellation of Abia LG Poll Alleging Irregularities

A coalition of 35 civil society organizations that monitored the November 2 local government elections in Abia State have called on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, to intervene and to cancel the elections. which they alleged was marred by several undemocratic and irregular practices.

The coalition also demanded that Governor Otti suspend the Chairman of the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, Prof. George Chima, “for bringing shame to Ndi-Abia.”

Speaking at a press conference on Monday in Umuahia, the group, coordinated by its leader, Engr. Simon Diogu alleged: “The local government elections in Abia State held on November 2, 2024 were rather a jamboree, a disgrace to global best practices for acceptable democratic elections as they were marred by several undemocratic practices.”

The coalition therefore demanded: “His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, who is himself a product of credible and peaceful elections, should, in the interests of national interest and to protect his image as a man of justice and fairness, appropriately direct the suspension of the elections. of Prof. George Chima, the Chairman of ABSIEC, for bringing such disgrace to Ndi-Abia and also leading the annulment of the election results, especially that of Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, as a way of protecting himself and his government from to safeguard this disgrace.

“President Tinubu, who has demonstrated commitment to local government autonomy for rapid grassroots development, must also intervene immediately to ensure that proper democratic and constitutional procedures are followed in electing local government chairmen government, instead of the selection strategy used in Abia.

“The National Assembly must take action in amending the relevant parts of our Constitution to ensure that the Independent National Electoral Commission takes over the conduct of local government elections in Nigeria.”

Describing Isialangwa South LGA as “the worst affected by the electoral malpractices”, the coalition stated: “Based on the above, as a coalition of civil society organizations that observed the November 2, 2024 municipal elections in Abia State, we would like to express our observation and position as follows:

“The November 2, 2024 local government election in Abia State did not take place as scheduled across the state except at some staged polling stations for media shows.

“The said exercise was marred by the following irregularities and violations of democratic principles such as non-availability of election materials and personnel for the elections, intimidation and intimidation of innocent voters by the security forces, and allocation of votes to political parties even to those who did participate in the elections.”

The coalition added that civil society organizations are committed to strengthening the democratic values ​​and constitutional rights of citizens. They are ready to mobilize their team members in Abia State and beyond for peaceful protest and all other democratic means to ensure compliance with the laws of the land. not only protected but obeyed, adding that it would not hesitate to take legal action against ABSIEC, the state government and the Zenith Labor Party.