In Anambra State, human rights and pro-democracy groups have raised concerns about the upcoming local government elections, accusing Governor Chukwuma Soludo of not being committed to a free and fair process. The Human Rights Liberty Access and Peace Defenders’ Foundation (HURIDE) and the Campaign for Democracy (CD) allege that Governor Soludo is rushing the election to unlock access to seized federal allocations for local governments.
Recall that the Supreme Court recently ruled that states failing to conduct local government elections would have their allocations withheld. In response, Soludo quickly appointed the State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), which then scheduled the election for September 28, 2024—giving just a month’s notice.
This decision has sparked backlash, with political parties rejecting the date and some even taking legal action.
The groups argue that the rushed timeline violates the 2022 Electoral Act, which mandates a three-month notice for elections, raising doubts about the election’s fairness. They caution that this could lead to a flawed process and urged the Governor to ensure a credible election, stressing that Soludo, himself a product of a free and fair election, should uphold democratic principles.
