Anambra electoral commission releases names of qualified candidates

The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission has released the list of qualified candidates for the state’s September 28 Local Government Elections.

On Wednesday, the Chairman of ANSIEC, Mrs Genevieve Osakwe, who disclosed this to journalists in Awka, asked prospective candidates and individuals to visit the commission’s headquarters or any local government area in the 21 local government areas to confirm the names of candidates for individual positions.

Osakwe urged shortlisted candidates to commence campaigns and encouraged the electorates to participate actively and vote for their choice candidates on September 28, 2024.

She said, “The list of candidates is for public consumption. Everyone is free to visit the commission’s headquarters or any local government area in the 21 LGAs to confirm the names of candidates for individual positions.

“We encourage Ndi Anambra to come out and take part in the election process as it will be free, fair and credible.”

The local government election schedules and processes have been generating controversies in the state where some political parties like the All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party are at loggerheads with ANSIEC, insisting that due process was not followed.

The three big parties threatened to withdraw from the exercise, citing “irregularities and lopsidedness” in the process.

For instance, during the party stakeholders’ meeting in Awka, on Saturday, members of the state APC, led by its chairman, Basil Ejidike, announced its withdrawal from the exercise, insisting that participating in the LG election would amount to “legalising illegality”.

The APC said the constitution of the ANSIEC and the announcement of the date for the election did not follow due process according to the Electoral Act 2022.

The PDP and the LP had also threatened to withdraw from the exercise citing “irregularities and non-adherence to due process.”

Recall that it is over 10 years since the local government elections were held in Anambra State as the last one was held in 2014.

As a result, all 21 local government areas in the state have been run by caretaker transition committee chairmen appointed by the governor every three months.