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As the September 21 Local Council elections approach, covering all 27 Local Government Areas and 305 wards recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has taken a significant step forward by conducting successful primaries, paving the way for a strong showing at the polls.
According to Amb. Henry Ifeanyi Eluwa, State Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the party’s primaries, which took place on August 3, 2024, were a resounding success, characterized by peace and tranquility across all 27 Local Government Areas and 305 INEC-registered wards in the state, adhering to the scheduled timeline set by the Independent State Electoral Commission (ISIEC).
Through a consensus-driven process, the SDP’s primaries achieved a remarkable outcome, with all aspirants returned unopposed, highlighting the party’s capacity for unity and cooperation in the pursuit of electoral success.
Among the contestants for councillorship seats, three women stand out. Kingsley Chidi Ubah, the Head of Election and Party Monitoring Team at ISIEC, played a crucial role in overseeing the election, bringing a sense of accountability and transparency to the process.
Ubah adjudged the exercise as being very transparent and wonderful.
‘Although the candidates were elected via consensus, ISIEC is satisfied with the process and democratic resolution of SDP. I charge the party to as well follow ISIEC rules in the main LG Polls,’ he said.
In an address to party loyalists, Prince Bright Obinna Ekwebelem, the party’s governorship candidate in the 2023 state election, emphasized the party’s unwavering commitment to good governance, internal democracy, and humanitarian values, asserting that the party would wholeheartedly support any credible candidate poised to emerge victorious.
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‘SDP is going to take over local government administration in Imo State because it believes in human dignity, development and progress‘, Ekwebelem said.
Amb. Henry Ifeanyi Eluwa, the State Chairman of the party, radiated happiness as he announced the successful conclusion of the primary elections, emphasizing that the exercise was held in all 27 Local Government Areas and 305 INEC-registered wards, covering the entire state.
‘It was on consensus. All aspirants were returned unopposed as the primary elections for both chairmanship and councillorship seats ended successfully.
‘Collation of results was also carried out fairly by the party in Owerri on the same day,’ he said.
He further stated that the party was ready to win majority seats in the council elections.
‘We will win the elections because we want to internalize democracy and good governance at the grassroots so that rural dwellers will enjoy life fully and comfortably,’ the Chairman added.
Eluwa commended the Governor for giving the green light for the Local Government elections, and then appealed to ISIEC to stand by its promise of conducting elections that are free from interference, fair in their outcome, and peaceful in their execution.
