On September 17, 2024, the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) headquarters in Owerri was abuzz with candidates (aspirants) gearing up for the local government elections scheduled for September 21, 2024.
However, a troubling development has cast a shadow over the nomination process.
An anonymous observer reported that candidates were taken aback when they arrived at the ISIEC office only to be informed of mandatory fees for nomination forms.
Chairmanship candidates were required to pay ₦100,000, while councilorship candidates faced a fee of ₦50,000 each.
This unexpected financial demand has left many candidates, particularly from opposition parties, frustrated and perplexed.
Several key issues have been raised by the observer:
No public list of candidates from any political party has been made available, leaving many in the dark about their eligibility and the accuracy of the nomination lists.
The direct sale of nomination forms by ISIEC to individual candidates, rather than through political parties, has been criticized.
The observer argued that ISIEC should have required political parties to purchase forms in bulk and distribute them to their candidates.
This approach would have ensured a more organized and transparent process.
With the election just days away and the sale of nomination forms starting only on September 17, concerns are mounting about whether ISIEC can complete the process in time.
This raises significant doubts about the commission’s preparedness for the upcoming election.
These issues underscore serious concerns about the readiness and integrity of ISIEC’s preparations.
The situation demands immediate attention to ensure a fair and orderly electoral process.
Attempts to contact the ISIEC Chairman, Hon. Charles Ejiogu, for a response were unsuccessful as the phone number provided was not connected at the time of this report.
Meanwhile, a certain LG Chairmanship Candidate under APC who pleaded his name not to be mentioned confirmed that he paid the sum of #200, 000, while those for Councilorship paid the sum of #51,000 to the management of ISIEC under the Chairmanship of Hon.Charles Ejiogu.
