Following allegations of alleged misconduct, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Owerri branch has called for the resignation of the chairman of the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC), Charles Ejiogu, over the commission’s alleged misconduct of the local government election held on September, 24.
Barr Chris Ihentuge, NBA Owerri branch chairman, called during a briefing shortly after the association’s monthly meeting in Owerri. He claimed the election was not fairly conducted and called the September 21 election a mockery of democracy.
Ihentuge said, “We resolved that what we had on September 21 as a local government election was not an election. It’s a sham, a mockery of democracy, and an insult to the people of Imo state. We are sure the ISIEC and the state government needed to prepare for the election that day.
” We condemn that act. They wasted people’s time and state funds to conduct an election. We are asking the chairman of ISIEC to resign. He does not have the power to conduct an election. He should resign and apologise to the Imo people,” Ihentuge said.
ISIEC declared all the All Progressives Congress candidates for the 27 chairmanship positions and council seats winners.
The NBA disclosed their disappointment over the non-inauguration of the electoral petition tribunal in the state before and after the election.
Ihentuge said, “Ordinarily, the election petition tribunal is supposed to be inaugurated before the election, but until today, we are not aware it has been inaugurated. The NBA is a stakeholder, so we should have been notified if such a thing existed.”