APC vows to stop Enugu council polls

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is spitting fire and brimstone over the  disqualification of all the three chairmanship and 16 councillorship candidates of the party by the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC).

The state electoral body had in a letter dated October 4 disqualified said that the candidates were disqualified based on non-payment of taxes as at when due and non-presentation of tax clearance certificates.

APC claims it received the letter the letter only at the weekend.

Part of the letter reads, 'Following further findings during verification of documents submitted by the candidates, it was observed that the tax clearance certificates showed that they did not pay their taxes as at and when due and at the appropriate place.

'Also it was further discovered that some of these candidates did not present any tax clearance certificate.'

The chairman APC local government election committee Dr. Ben Nwoye decried the development, describing it is a rape on democracy and attempt by the State Governor, Sullivan Chime to stifle opposition in the state through the ENSIEC.

'I want the world to know that Chime has stifled democracy in Enugu State and his instrument of destruction is Dr. Boniface Eneh. He should rethink his action and allow silent voice of majority prevail.

'If they say there is no opposition why should the governor instruct his Executive Director of ENSIEC to withdraw clearance he had issued to opposition?, he queried.