Abia State’s local government elections, held on November 2nd, have been declared free and fair by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).
In a post-election briefing in Umuahia, IPAC representatives, led by Chairman Nelccin Uluocha (also the state chairman of the Young Progressive Party, YPP) and Publicity Secretary Joseph Ulu, announced a resounding consensus among participating political parties regarding the election’s integrity.
IPAC, representing a broad spectrum of political parties in Abia State, stated that it had received no formal complaints challenging the results.
This declaration comes despite earlier allegations of irregularities.
Uluocha emphasized that a thorough review conducted by IPAC indicated a credible electoral process, free from manipulation in favor of any specific party.
The statement explicitly addressed concerns raised by some parties, urging candidates dissatisfied with their results to follow established procedures for filing complaints.
IPAC strongly discouraged the use of public media to escalate disputes, advocating instead for the proper channels within their respective parties and the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC).
The council stressed the importance of maintaining a calm and orderly political climate within Abia State following the elections.
This declaration of a fair election stands in contrast to at least one previously publicized claim. Emenike Azubuike, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chairmanship candidate for Isuikwuato LGA, had earlier accused ABSIEC of withholding certified true copies of his election results for two weeks, despite submitting multiple requests for the documents.
However, IPAC’s statement indicates that this individual complaint did not represent a widespread challenge to the election’s overall fairness or legality.
The council’s emphasis on using official channels for dispute resolution underscores its commitment to upholding the established electoral process.
Beyond the assessment of the election’s fairness, IPAC offered guidance to the newly elected local government chairmen and councilors.
The council urged them to adopt an inclusive approach to governance, extending cooperation and consideration to those who did not win the elections.
This call for inclusivity emphasizes the importance of fostering unity and collaboration within the communities, thereby promoting stability and effective governance at the local level.
The overall message from IPAC is one of unity, adherence to process, and a hopeful outlook for the future governance of Abia State’s local governments.
