Enugu LG Election: Group protests distortion of zoning arrangement by government
Protests have continued to trail alleged distortion of zoning arrangements for the forthcoming local government council election in the various councils in Enugu State.
The Igbo-Eze South West Forum in Igbo-Eze Local Government Area of the state stormed the office of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi protesting the alleged distortion of the rotational policy in place by the state government.
The forum in an open letter handed over to the governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi during the event also applauded the giant strides of the governor.
The letter titled ‘A passionate Appeal from Igbo-Eze South West’ was signed by the chairman, Mr. Johnson Eze.
Eze said that the membership of the forum was drawn from eight wards in Ibagwa-Aka, Itchi, Nkalagu-Obukpa, Unadu and Alor-Agu.
He appealed to the state government to respect the established zoning principle in the election for chairmanship position of the council to avoid unnecessary tension and instability in the area.
He said that the government had prior to the announcement of the conduct of the local government election assured the Igbo-Eze South West section of the area of producing the next elected council chairman.
Eze said that they were worried over rumours from party chieftains that the government had endorsed the incumbent caretaker chairmen to run at the Nov. 3 council poll in the state.
“This action will distort the zoning arrangement in the area and will place us out of the chairmanship position for eight years as Igbo-Eze South East have held chairmanship position from 2012 to date.
“We should be allowed to take our turn in the interest of fairness and equity. This appeal is anchored on the fact that Your Excellency is also a product of zoning in Enugu State,” he said.
Eze said that the forum was impressed with the performance of the governor in the last two years of his administration and had endorsed him for a second term in office.
Responding, Ugwuanyi assured that his administration would respect the zoning policy in areas it existed and urged them to consult the stakeholders in their area.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the state governor on Political Matters, Mr. Emeka Mmadu has assured the people that the state government will not impose any candidate in the Nov 4 Local Government election in the state.
Mmadu said this while briefing newsmen amidst growing tension amongst the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faithful and other interest groups in the state.
It would be recalled that protests are ongoing from some local government areas over alleged attempt to endorse incumbent caretaker committee chairmen as PDP candidates in the election.
However, Mmadu said that the state government would have no hand in such arrangement.
He said that PDP stakeholders in the various councils would rather meet to agree on the best candidate to present as the party’s flag bearer.
“It is the stakeholders that will determine who represents them. The government will not interfere,” he said.
