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The Chairman of Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, Prof Mkpa Agu Mkpa has revealed that the ongoing indefinite industrial action by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Abia State and courts’ orders was what prevented the conduct of the local government election scheduled for Friday, the 19th of May.
The Chairman of the electoral body made this disclosure in a chat with a radio station in Umuahia over the weekend, explaining that it was due to some challenges and that the commission was yet to get the prevailing orders vacated from Arochukwu and Bende High Courts, which barred them from conducting the election.
According to him, ‘We have some encumbrances, hitches here and there. Our offices are under lock by NLC, and they went there to chase everyone out.
‘There is no chance that the situation would improve by Friday when the election is supposed to be held.
Read Also: Unpaid Salaries: Abia NLC Shuts Down Govt Activities
He went on to add; ‘Furthermore, we are expecting that two court orders served us from Arochukwu and Bende barring us from conducting the election would be vacated. ABSIEC, as a law-abiding commission, would not want to be charged with contempt of court. So, we are waiting for the court order to be vacated.
‘We are also hoping that Labour would resolve their issues and allow our workers to return to their offices. As a result of the court injunction, parties have also not come out to purchase forms, and the time is fast-moving. Am afraid it’s neither here nor there’.
The Eastern Updates recalls that the leading opposition parties in the state had earlier pulled out of the exercise which they widely condemned as illegal.
