The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has announced that it will not join protests or pursue legal action against the Chairman of the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC), Professor George Chima, over the upcoming November 2 local government elections.
This position comes amidst demands from the Action Alliance (AA) and the Allied People’s Movement (APM) for Professor Chima’s removal, a boycott of the elections, and threats of legal action.
The aggrieved parties cited high administrative fees imposed by ABSIEC and other challenges as reasons for their opposition.
However, in a statement released on Saturday by CUPP’s State Secretary, Joseph Ulu, and Legal Adviser, Larry Charles, the coalition distanced itself from the demands of AA and APM, clarifying that the decisions did not originate from the CUPP secretariat.
The CUPP emphasized that all political parties in the state had received fair treatment from ABSIEC, questioning the justification for protests, legal action, or calls for the chairman’s removal.
“The introduction of ABSIEC’s administrative fees predates the current administration. In fact, with the recent reduction, the fees are now the lowest in the history of local government elections in Abia,” the statement read.
The CUPP further affirmed: “We have resolved not to engage in protests or legal action against ABSIEC.
We urge security agencies to monitor and address any disruptive elements planning to interfere with the peaceful conduct of the elections.”
The coalition warned that calls for protests, boycotts, or legal challenges could spark political unrest in the state, urging all stakeholders to prioritize peace and ensure the smooth conduct of the November 2 elections.
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