– Charges ISIEC To Conduct Transparent Elections
Center For Democracy and Transparency in Governance, a human rights group that advocates due process, accountability and rule of law, has expressed reservation about the directive given to APC leaders by the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma that candidates for the upcoming local government election should emerge through consensus arrangement.
Speaking through the Director, Political Affairs, Smart Mere, the group said, it is disgusting that when Nigerians are calling for and insisting on having free, fair and credible elections that will produce results that are in line with the wishes of the people, Governor Uzodinma is contemplating using the consensus arrangement that is synonymous with hand picking preferred candidates.
“We are against using the Consensus arrangement or whatever it is called because it is a ploy by the Governor to impose his stooges who may not be who the people want.
Continuing, he said, “if the Governor is actually sincere and is committed to ensuring free, fair and credible elections in Imo State would it not have been better to allow the leaders and people of the various LGAs, to look inwards and allow the people come up with their choice candidates, instead of usurping their right of choice in the guise of Consensus arrangement.
The group used the opportunity to call on the Chairman, Imo State Independent Electoral Commission ISIEC, to conduct free, fair and transparent elections bearing in mind that his name and that of his family will be at stake.
He also stated that their eyes are wide open to monitor the electoral process in Imo State. “We have heard so much about the penchant to rig and manipulate elections in the state. Hence we will be on ground to monitor the exercise.
