By Aaior K. Comfort

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra has formally rejected the results of the recent Local Government Council elections held on Saturday. Chief Chigozie Igwe, the chairman of the PDP in Anambra, expressed the party’s stance during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Awka on Monday.

Mrs. Genevieve Osakwe, the Chairman of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), announced the victory of chairmanship and councillorship candidates from the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in all 21 local government councils and 326 wards on Sunday night. She described the elections as “free, fair, credible, and peaceful.”

However, Igwe criticized the electoral process, calling it a “charade.” He noted that the PDP did not boycott the elections like other political parties, positioning them to contest the outcome. “They gave us one month to prepare for the election, during which we sold forms, screened nominees, conducted primaries, and campaigned,” he explained. “But on election day, ANSIEC sent materials and officials to wherever they liked, with no results released anywhere, including Zikdton Primary School in Nza Ozubulu, where I voted.”

Igwe pledged that the PDP would challenge the election results and ensure that local government autonomy in Anambra is upheld. He emphasized that funds allocated for local governments must be utilized for community development, stating, “We will make sure that any chairman who misuses local government money is prosecuted and sent to jail.” As the leading opposition party, the PDP is committed to representing the people and upholding the principles of governance in the state.