The Anambra House of Assembly has confirmed the six-man nominees of the State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC). The lawmakers on July 30 received Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s nomination for ANSIEC membership upon its resumption.
The governor’s request was immediately referred to the House Screening Committee for screening and further action. Consequently, the nominees were screened on Wednesday morning and confirmed during the plenary.
The six nominees are Magistrate Chinelo Genevieve Osakwa (Chairperson), Mrs Bernadine Obande, Barr. Osita Igbokwe, Sir. Chinedu Nnalue, Mrs Helen Umeh and Mr John Okeke.
It is now obvious that the governor might be gearing up for the conduct of the local government election “as soon as practical.”
Recalls an uproar in early July this year when Soludo dumped the democratisation of the local government system to swear in another appointed Transition Committee (TC) Chairmen.
The governor retreating from his earlier promises played another waiting game to swear in appointed TC Chairmen contrarily to his commitments to bring governance closer to the people.
During his inauguration on March 17, 2022, the governor pledged to prioritize local government elections in the state, a move anticipated to invigorate grassroots democracy.
This promise went down well with the electorate, who longed for leaders accountable directly to them. The establishment of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) is seen as a crucial step towards fulfilling this commitment.
