4th November, 2024
Bishop Silas Eke, a respected cleric from Abia, has spoken out about the recent local government elections in Abia State, describing them as “shameful, disgraceful, and shambolic.”
The Zenith Labour Party emerged victorious in 15 out of the 17 Local Government Areas in Abia State during the local government elections held on November 2, while the Young Progressive Party claimed victory in the remaining two LGAs.
Analyzing the election, Bishop Eke attributed the election’s shortcomings to the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) poor performance, which resulted in late arrival of election officials and materials, ultimately delaying the exercise across the state.
According to Bishop Eke, the last time Abia State witnessed credible local government elections was during Orji Uzor Kalu’s administration.
He praised Kalu for providing a level playing field for all political parties, allowing them to test their popularity and acceptability. This, he noted, was true democracy in action, evident in the performance of the chairmen in their respective local government areas.
Bishop Eke expressed disappointment with the current administration, saying, “We heard of intimidation in some parts of the state, where people were injured, beaten, and arrested by government officials. This is not what we expected from someone like Governor Otti.”
He urged Governor Otti to emulate Kalu’s example and ensure free, fair, and credible elections.
The bishop’s opinion were echoed by many Abia residents, who criticized the electoral commission for its handling of the elections.
Prospective voters grew frustrated and left polling units after waiting hours without election officials.
In his words, “Governor Orji Uzor Kalu remains the only governor in Abia State to have conducted free, fair, and credible local government elections. The best local government chairmen we’ve had in Abia State were all from the Orji Uzor Kalu era.”
