Anambra Inaugurates New Council Chairmen …AS APC Proceeds To Appeal Court

The 20 council chairmen
and their deputies elected in last Saturday’s  local government poll in Anambra State were on Monday sworn-in in Awka, the state capital.
Election did not hold in Nnewi North Local Government Area and has been rescheduled for Saturday, January 18.
The inducted chairmen had earlier collected their Certificates of Return from the Acting Chairman, State Independent Electoral Commission, Mr. Sylvester Okonkwo, at the ANSIEC headquarters in Awka.
The induction, witnessed by chairmen of 19 political parties, took place at the Conference Hall of the Government House, amidst dancing and drumming by their supporters and sympathisers.
Addressing the new council bosses, Governor Peter Obi recalled that the last local government election in the state was conducted in December 1998 by the military.
Obi assured that henceforth, the Constitution and electoral laws must be strictly followed and council election would be conducted every two years.
He said the local government system remained a critical component of the state and the country, noting that his administration had rebuilt and transformed the third tier of government and launched it on course of growth.
Speaking on behalf of his counterparts, the Chairman of Oyi Local Government Area, Mr. Uchenna Okafor, said the new council bosses would live up to their peoples’ expectations.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has gone to the Appeal Court in Enugu State to challenge the dismissal of its motion to stop the January 11 local government election in Anambra State. The case was dismissed at the Federal High Court, Awka.
The party, which earlier backed out of the election on the grounds of fake voter register and non-publication of the list of candidates, prayed for the following reliefs:
An order compelling the first defendant (Independent National Electoral Commission-INEC) to reverse the voter register and display same for public scrutiny.
An order of perpetual injunction restraining the second defendant (Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission-ANSIEC) from conducting the election scheduled for January 11 or at any other date until the the issues raised in the originating summons have been addressed.
APC also sought an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the first and second defendants, their servants, agents or privies from conducting or organising the election on January 11 or at any date pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons dated January 6.
The party’s Interim Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr. Chukwuma Agufugo, in a statement in Awka yesterday said:
“You are aware that the registered parties in the state, with the exception of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), agreed at the Marble Arch Hotel, Awka, on January 6, not to participate in the election. Events in the state on Saturday justified our position and the indigenes complied with our decision not to take part in the election. Government and ANSIEC’s show of shame has vindicated us.”
“When our party opted out, we told Nigerians that starting from a bad voter register, to non-display of the three variants of register they intend to use and non-publication of the names of candidates, ANSIEC was poised to rig the election.What was witnessed on Saturday- absence of electoral officials and materials in 90 per cent of the booths, late arrival of same in the few wards without result sheets, meant the selection process was concluded days before Anambra people were called out.” The statement added.
“We wish to inform candidates, aspirants and opposition parties that we are heading for the Appeal Court to get this undemocratic misdemeanour corrected.”, it emphasised,.