The members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State has decried their exclusion from the local government election by Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ESIEC) holding today, 23rd February 2022

They expressed their displeasure as they led a peaceful protest to Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission’s (ESIEC) office.

According to the Deputy State Chairman of APC Enugu State, Augustine Agballah. He stated that Hon. Ugochukwu Agballah is the Congress Chairman of APC but their candidates have been disenfranchised. Augustine added that the election is a fraud and proceeding with it will only lead to wastage of the state resources because the case has already been filed in Enugu State High Court and they are ready to take it to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The state secretary of APC Hon. Robert Ngwu said the state has 260 wards and 17 local government chairman candidates were excluded from the electoral list. Adding that they had the right to vote and be voted for.

Further speaking with the state spokes man APC, Charles Solomon,described the conduct of ESIEC as a rape on democracy, leadership and franchise. Saying that the date of the election should be shifted in order to enable APC Candidates take active participation.

The ESIEC chairman, Chief Mike Ajogwu (SAN) in his statement said he called the state chairman APC Hon. Ugochukwu Agballah on several occasions which he described as a brother and colleague to submit the list of candidates but he said it was not ready. So he decided to publish the former APC Chairman list, Ben Nwoye because he was the one the commission had related with over the years.

While he was still speaking,the protesters ranted so he decided to walk away.

The protesters who had placards with several inscriptions such as: Say no to political Monopoly, free and fair election is the joy of democracy,say no to election exclusion, say no to political disenfranchisement,our vote is our right. ESIEC is not for a particular political party.