The Anambra State Government says it will not force any community to conduct an election, but will ensure that due process is followed in the election of community leaders to guarantee peace across the state.
The State Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Town Union Affairs, Mr Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne, stated this while reacting to the request by Ndiowu community over the traditional ruler election earlier scheduled for today, January 12, 2025.
He explained that the state government is ready to conduct the election at a time convenient for Ndiowu community to ensure full participation of the people in the exercise, but made it clear that the government will not allow anyone to impose a candidate on the people, but will ensure that the election is free and fair.
Commissioner Nwabunwanne, who expressed displeasure over the disqualification of some of the five candidates contesting in the election by the President-General of the town after they had purchased nomination forms on bases that the stool is rational and other conditions, said that such action was wrong, as such criteria should have been clearly stated before the sale of forms, and assured that the state government will give all candidates the opportunity to participate in the election and allow the people of the community to decide who becomes their traditional ruler.
