Anambra LG Polls: Beyond Throwing Tantrums, Time to Produce Needed Grassroots Leaders
By Chuka Nnabuife
THE buzz on Anambra State’s proposed local government (LG) councils’ this time is on timing and procedure.
Following a series of commentaries I wrote on the approaching LG elections in Anambra, the most feedbacks I got dotted on the scheduled time of polls and the transparence of the process.
A common question was: “why the short space of time given to parties to prepare for the election?”
A respondent’s reply to one of my pieces, ‘Anambra… Very Keen on Sept 28 LG Elections’, states thusly: “Why the sudden rush for an election?
“Why not give sufficient time or liaise with other parties?”
There were other views. Some praised, some had knocks. Some stayed on the fence.
To those who dwelt on time, I posed the question: How long would have been “sufficient time”? But got no reply.
I recalled that instead of the 30-day period between the election date and the commencement of the plan that the state’s electoral law requires, the organisers, Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) gave 48 days.
I also noted that before the naming and commissioning of the new ANSIEC board, there had been sustained concerted calls for Anambra State to hold LG elections. Many observed and made issues of the fact that the governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo had promised that he would hold LG elections under his tenure. Some claimed that the governor said he was going to do so within his first six months. Others said he set a one-year target, while there were those who alleged that the governor was not going to hold any LG poll.
Noting the sustained pressure mounted on the state government to hold the elections, I wondered how the eventual heed to the frenzied calls, after over two years of loud campaigns, suddenly became interpreted as a “rush” of the process.
Even my reminder of the recent landmark ruling of The Supreme Court of Nigeria which put states like Anambra on tight rope by ordering that LG councils’ without elected governments should henceforth, not receive federal government allocation, did not douse the dotting on time.
Similarly, there were readers who lampooned the article on the ground of transparency of the process. They flayed the manner of passing the new electoral bill at the Anambra State House of Assembly (ANHA) and the governor’s prompt signing of it into law. Some feedbacks sensed something fishy in the process while some claimed it could have been “more transparent.”
Challenged to identify the areas where the process was opaque or the parts of the electoral law that are obtuse or even where the ANHA went against its rules in the passing of the bill, nobody produced buttressing facts.
Some called to ask which party will the Anambra State government use to field its candidates given the leadership issues in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) which is the ruling party in Anambra State. Surprised by such s question, I asked why I should be expected to know any party favoured by the government. I also wondered when government became a party that will field candidates for election.
That, notwithstanding, how a national leadership issue of APGA would affect local councils elections is still a matter I chose not to bang my head on.
Facts are sacred and when emotions or biases come into serious matters they do a lot of harm to the possessed’s ability to give clear narrative. Moreso, his ability to understand the other party’s point of view. It is not very difficult to reason that a prolonged period of skepticism has informed some of the responses but one factor that stands out from the development is that ndi Anambra should avoid those who want to deceive and derail them on the path towards the September 28, LG elections.
Opting for throwing tantrums and banters when a clear opportunity is on the table for people to step up and take the mantle and provide ndị Anambra the desired grassroots leadership is vanity and playing to the gallery. No true leader, genuine political party or interest group would want an opportunity like this approaching election to pass bye.
Since, Wednesday, August 14 ANSIEC has published the election’s timetable. Stakeholders’ in the Electoral process should take full advantage of it.
Good news is that ANSIEC is following the timeline and landmarks meticulously. Those aspiring for council offices and their political parties should key in and explore the process.
Anambra State needs ready leaders and an effective LG system.
