LGA Election: Foundation charges EBSEIC on credible polls
The leadership of the Salt Family Foundation (SFF) in Ebonyi State, has called on the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) to ensure the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in the forthcoming Local Government Elections across the state.
The Foundation said credible elections remain the only pathway to achieving quality leadership at the grassroots level, stressing that the persistent leadership challenges facing local government areas stem largely from the imposition of officials rather than the emergence of leaders through democratic processes.
In a statement jointly by its President of the Foundation, Eze Oko Splendour; Director General Affairs, Nwangele Nnanna; Director of Media, Igiri Innocent; and Director of Legal Affairs, Chibuike Ezennabike.
The group warned that it would petition the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withhold the release of the voter register should any irregularities be observed in the preparation for the polls.
According to the Foundation, Ebonyi State’s development depends largely on the emergence of democratically elected leaders who remain accountable to the people.
The group said: “That Ebonyi State will develop faster if there is democratically elected leadership at the Local Government and State level.
“This will enable the leadership elected by the people to recognize that the people are the reason such Government is in office and this will compel the Government to work for the people and not to lord themselves over the people that voted for them.
“The Foundation wishes to use this medium to inform EBSIEC that her members across the one hundred and seventy one (171) electoral wards and thirteen Local Government Areas in Ebonyi State have volunteered to monitor the forthcoming Local Government Elections to make sure that the exercise is seen to be free and fair.
“Salt Family Foundation will not hesitate to raise alarm anywhere election malpractices are dictated. The Foundation is interested in the welfare and wellbeing of Ebonyi People and this can only be achieved if EBSIEC conducts free and fair elections in Ebonyi State.
“Salt Family Foundation equally advises all the political parties involved in the forthcoming Local Government Elections in Ebonyi State to please play by the rules. There should be no rigging of elections, no thuggery or snatching of ballot boxes in this election.
“Ebonyi People want to see Local Government Leaders emerge via a democratic process not through violence, intimidation or imposition.
“The Foundation calls on Ebonyi People to come out in their numbers and cast their votes to their preferred candidates without fear. The People must make sure they vote and stay back and protect their votes.
“Ebonyi People must continue to demand for free, fair and credible elections in Ebonyi State. Votes must begin to count in Ebonyi State going forward because that is the only way our nascent Democracy can be sustained.”
The Foundation also advised political parties participating in the elections to strictly adhere to electoral guidelines, warning against acts such as ballot box snatching, thuggery, violence, intimidation and vote manipulation.
It urged voters to come out en masse on election day to exercise their civic responsibility without fear, while encouraging them to remain vigilant to ensure that their votes count.
The Foundation calls on the security agents in Ebonyi State to be neutral in this forthcoming Local Government Elections. No security personnel should be seen supporting any political party against the others.
“Their duty is to protect the People that will come out to vote that day. To make sure there is no breakdown of law and order and that the election is free and fair.
“Ebonyi People will be very happy if the security agents will be more professional in the discharge of their duties during the forthcoming Local Government Elections,“ they added.
