Gov  Ibikunle Amosu

Chuks Okocha    with agency reports
 
About 25 political parties will participate in the Anambra State local government elections slated for January 11.

The acting Chairman of the state Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) Mr. Sylvester Okonkwo, disclosed this yesterday while speaking with journalists on the preparedness of the commission in Akwa.

The chairman said the number of political parties was the highest in the country in the conduct of any local council poll.

He said some of the parties included: the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Action Alliance (AA), All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Accord Party (AP).

Okonkwo, however, said he only received a text message from the APC, stating its withdrawal from the poll but there was no official letter.
According to him, the text message which was simply signed “SDS’’ was also sent to the state governor.

“I only got a text message from them saying they will not participate because of the flawed voters’ register used in the governorship poll.

“They noted that since their candidate in the last governorship poll was in court challenging the same register, they will not take part in any election where the same register will be used.
“But we already have names of some of their party members for the poll,’’ he said.

Okonkwo said adequate security had been made for the conduct of the election.
He denied an allegation that the commission had concluded plans to ensure victory for APGA, saying the sensitive materials for the poll were intact.

“It is a figment of imagination of those making the allegation,’’ Okonkwo said.
He urged voters to come out en masse to vote for the candidates of their choice on Jan. 11.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that local council election was last conducted in the state in 1999.

The local government election had been postponed more than seven times since then.