The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State, Austin Nwachukwu, has condemned the recent local government elections, describing the process as a “murder of democracy.”
Nwachukwu accused the State Electoral Commission of being a willing tool in the hands of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration under Governor Hope Uzodinma.
During a press briefing in Owerri, Nwachukwu expressed his dissatisfaction with the election process, claiming it lacked basic democratic principles.
He alleged that the elections were not conducted at designated polling units as required by law, but rather in hotel rooms and offices of Sole Administrators across the 27 local government areas of the state.
The Imo PDP Chairman voiced his disappointment with the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC), noting that by 4 p.m. on election day, there was a glaring absence of both sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials, as well as ISIEC staff in many polling units.
“The purported local government elections in the State are nothing to write home about. It was a show of shame, an organized fraud, and an unprecedented rape of democracy,” Nwachukwu stated.
He added that many frustrated voters left polling stations without casting their ballots after waiting for hours.
Nwachukwu further accused ISIEC of making electoral materials available only to APC candidates, alleging that these materials were delivered to locations outside of polling units.
He also criticised the commission for not following electoral guidelines, particularly failing to release a list of candidates and publish the voters’ register ahead of the election.
The PDP Chairman reiterated that the party had raised alarms about APC’s alleged plans to manipulate the election process.
According to him, the outcome of the local government elections demonstrated a complete failure to uphold democratic values under Governor Uzodinma’s administration.
Nwachukwu’s strong condemnation of the election reflects growing discontent within the PDP regarding the conduct of the polls, further intensifying the political rivalry in Imo State as the PDP challenges the legitimacy of the APC’s hold on local government positions.
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