By Austin OKORO
The upcoming September 21st local government areas elections, the Nigeria Bar Association NBA has called on the Imo state Independent Electoral Commissio, ISIEC to conduct free, fair and credible elections where people will be happy at the end of the day.
The association also cautioned political parties and candidates to shun vote buying, voters intimidation and imposition of candidates to the masses.
They made this call on Tuesday while on a courtesy visit to the Secretariat of the Imo state Independent Electoral Commissio ISIEC located at Orlu road Owerri Imo state.
Speaking to newsmen after their meeting, the Imo state chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association NBA, Chief Barr. Chris Ihentuge said NBA as one of the major stakeholders in the state wants Imo state Independent Electoral Commissio ISIEC to conduct a credible,free and fair elections on Saturday. According to him, ” At the end of the election, we want to see a credible election where people will be happy that their votes counted”.
The NBA boss noted that they came to ISIEC to see the level of preparedness towards the elections adding that from the assurances they got from the leadership of ISIEC, they would conduct a credible election.
Ihentuge said there should be a level playing ground for candidates of all political parties during the elections stressing that if candidates of other parties observe any form of election malpractices or the other, they should seek redress in the court of law. He added that NBA will observe the elections and all the processes; and will advise candidates on how to go about it or behave during and after the elections.
The lead gathered that ISIEC in their preparation charged the chairmanship and Councillorship candidates to pay two hundred thousand naira (#200,000) and fifty thousand naira (#50,000) respectively for them to be cleared for the elections .
In a related development, the Chairmanship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA, from Owerri North LGA, Chief Albert Uchenna said he is satisfied with the processes of the election since nothing is perfect in life, adding that he is in the race because of his love for humanity and what he would add to the economy of the state. He called on his people to vote for him because he has the capacity to produce positive change to the local government and that he has acquired wide experiences from his travels and his talents.
