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Anambra LG poll: Only APGA, YPP to contest in August — Electoral commission

From The Punch · (Apr 24) English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) has announced that only the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Young Progressives Party (YPP) will contest the August 29 local government elections.
  • ANSIEC stated that other registered political parties failed to present candidates by the deadline for primaries, despite the commission providing a timetable and guidelines.
  • The commission assured residents of a free, fair, and credible election, urging citizens to participate and vote to express their dissatisfaction with governance, rather than boycotting.

Anambra State is gearing up for its local government elections on August 29, but the contest will be a two-party affair, with only the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Young Progressives Party (YPP) fielding candidates. The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) confirmed that other registered political parties missed the window to participate, a situation the commission finds perplexing.

But accidentally, only APGA and YPP participated, while other political parties did not, till the time given for the primaries expired.

— Anthony ChineduANSIEC Commissioner explaining why only two parties will contest the August 29 local government elections.

Anthony Chinedu, ANSIEC Commissioner for Information and Publicity, expressed his bewilderment that more parties did not seize the opportunity to engage in the electoral process. He emphasized that the commission had released the election timetable and guidelines well in advance, offering an open floor for all parties. The failure of others to present candidates, he suggested, leaves them with no one to blame but themselves.

If you believe that you are a registered political party and you have the followers, why did you not venture into the electoral process. Who is to be blamed?

— Anthony ChineduQuestioning the absence of other political parties in the local government election process.

From our perspective at The Punch, this scenario highlights a potential disconnect between party presence and active participation in grassroots governance. While APGA and YPP are set to compete, the absence of other major political players raises questions about their commitment to local democracy in Anambra. Governor Chukwuma Soludo's administration has pledged non-interference, ensuring the election will be free, fair, and credible, with the true winners declared by ANSIEC.

As far as we are concerned, we are not envisaging any challenge because, as I said earlier, the election is going to be free, fair and credible.

— Anthony ChineduAssuring residents about the credibility of the upcoming local government elections.

Chinedu also voiced concern over voter apathy, a persistent issue in Nigerian elections. He urged residents to actively participate, emphasizing that boycotting elections is counterproductive. Voting, he stressed, is the most effective way to express dissatisfaction with governance and to influence the outcome, rather than allowing others to make decisions by default. The commission is making arrangements for necessary materials, aiming for a smooth electoral process.

I always tell people that it is wrong, when you refuse to go and vote, you are indirectly given your approval for wrong people to take over the government, it is as simple as that.

— Anthony ChineduAdvising residents against voter apathy and encouraging participation in elections.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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