Politicians in Anambra urged to obey court judgements

The former Chairman of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), Prof. Titus Eze, has urged stakeholders and parties to be cautious of existing court orders on the proposed council polls.

Eze told newsmen in Awka on Tuesday that stakeholders should bear in mind that there were pending law suits on the election, and his position as the substantive chairman of the commission.

He noted that the legal norm was that no action would be taken to change the status quo as ruled by Justice Hope Ozoh of the Anambra State High court on the matter sometime last year.

He affirmed that he had gone to court when he was purportedly removed as the chairman, the matter of which has remained in court since then.

He said that the local government Electoral Law No. 5 of 2000 vested the conduct and supervision of council poll in the chairman.

''The critical areas provided for critical actions that must be carried out by the chairman, leading to an acceptable and unbiased election,'' he said.

“Neither the nation’s constitution nor any other law provided for an acting chairman. And if such position is not provided by any of our laws, I then wonder where and how any person will assume such position,” he said.

Eze said being one of the greatest beneficiaries of the legal process, it would be preposterous for the state government to now try to deride the courts.

He called on the electorate to be cautious of the election as it would surely be invalidated.

He, however, declined categorical demand for suspension and cancellation of the election.

The Acting Chairman of ANSIEC, Mr Sylvester Okonkwo, had said it was ready for the poll and that nothing would stop it.

“Not even all these allegations will stop the election,” he said.