CUPP threatens to boycott Abia LG election, say administration fee is to exorbitant
The Coalition of United Political parties (CUPP) Abia State chapter has said it will oycott the Local Government elections scheduled to hold on November 2, 2024.
They also stated that her member political parties have resolved to initiate a legal action and obtain an injunction to stop the forthcoming LG ections in the state.
The decision of CUPP was contained in a statement signed by its chairman Barr Ikenna Edozie and Hon. Victor Umunna the Publicity Secretary of the group.
Edozie stated that CUPP and it’s affiliate 16 political parties will engage in a peaceful protest on a later date to express and make open to all Abians their reservations concerning the conduct of the elections.
The group alleged that the amount fixed by the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) as administrative fees is too exobitanat and is intended to stop the candidates of some political parties from contesting the election.
The statement read,”CUPP frowns at the unwarranted monetisation, exploitation and extortion of Abians seeking elective positions in the forthcoming Local Government Elections in Abia State.
“CUPP condemns the prevailing practice whereby contestants in the elections are mandated to pay so called administrative fees ranging from N100,000 for chairmanship candidates and N50,000 for Councillorship inspite of the huge unaccounted financial appropriation by Abia State House of Assembly to ABSIEC for the conduct of these elections.
“We frown at the manner at which the Prof George N.Chima the ABSIEC chairman appointed Gov. Alex Otti is trying to arm twist,suppress and eventually exclude other political parties from participating in the forthcoming LG election, ranging from their adhoc preparations and unnannounced knee jerk approach for notices to meetings and implementation of programmes relating to the forthcoming Local Government Elections in Abia State scheduled to hold on the 2nd of November 2024.
“This has made most of our potential candidates from other political parties who are not alligned with Governor with Gov Alex Otti’s faction of Labour Party to pull out of the race.
“This approach is nothing less than clandestine style to perfect the rigging plan of the rulling political party led by Governor Alex otti.
“CUPP perceives and submits to all Abians that the forthcoming Local Government to be conducted by ABSIEC is a synchronised sham and charade with the obvious goal to rig the elections and write the results in favour of contestants alligned to Gov. Alex Otti faction of the Labour Party which widespread rumour mill and generally circulating information have adopted Zenith Labour Party as their platform to contest the election as a result of Labour party leadership crisis.
“We therefore call for the immediate sack of the ABSIEC chairman, and implementation of an equitable,fair and just level playing ground for all political parties by ABSIEC as it affects the forthcoming Local Government Elections in Abia State. The
timetable should be shifted to December.
“However, we are aware that Abia state has disobeyed the Supreme Court order by scheduling her election after the expiration of three months ordered by the Supreme Court”.