ANAMBRA PARTIES, ASPIRANTS ASK OBI TO CONDUCT COUNCIL POLLS

REGISTERED political parties in Anambra State have petitioned Governor Peter Obi, seeking the immediate conduct of local council elections in the state.

In a letter written on behalf of their chairmanship and councillorship aspirants, numbering 18,000 from the 21 local councils, the parties recalled the state's journey to near-anarchy over previous efforts to get past governors of the state to conduct council elections.

They urged Obi, to in the interest of peace, justice, equity, and grassroots development immediately release the timetable for the polls.

The party leaders further argued that the non-conduct of council election in Anambra had made development elusive at the grassroots.

They also claimed that over N300 billion had accrued to the councils since 2006 when Obi came to office.

The aspirants, who also added their voice to the demand of their party leaders said: 'We the chairmanship and councillorship aspirants in the 21 councils of the state unanimously request you (Obi) in the interest of peace, justice, equity and for the sake of grassroots development of Anambra State to immediately release funds to the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) to enable it conduct elections within the next three months as the law stipulates on the receipt of this letter. For it is not enough to say that ANSIEC is not prepared…'

The letter, which was copied to the Presidency, the National Assembly, Chief Justice of the Federation and other stakeholders, was signed by Chiefs Uche Oforma (Accord Party), B.E. Odoziobodo (ANPP), J.E. Agbakwuru (PDP), Cyprian Okafor (ACN), Ezenwata Odogwu (APGA), and Emma Nweke of the Labour Party (LP).

This came as members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state held a three-day fasting and prayers seeking divine intervention in the leadership crisis rocking the South-East zone.

The prayer session, which started on Monday ended on Wednesday at the party's secretariat in Udoka Housing Estate, Awka.

The event, in which clergymen from different denominations featured, was coordinated by the chairman of the state chapter of the party, Ken Emeakayi.