In apparent disregard to worries expressed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo state over plans to create new wards, the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) yesterday said there is no going back on the exercise.
And to demonstrate its commitment, the commission has announced an extension to the deadline for the collection of forms by communities in the state interested in having new wards.
In a statement by the commission’s chairman, Barr Teddy Obi Akwara, the deadline for the sale of forms for new wards was extended to 16th November, 2012. The earlier scheduled deadline was 31st October 2012. When the Imo Trumpeta sought to know whether the commission is aware of the complaints by political parties such as the PDP on the creation of the new wards, the Public Relations Officer of the commission, Mrs Chinamerem Ibekwe, denied being aware of such complaints.
She stated that ISIEC is going ahead to sell the forms for the creation of new wards to interested communities and that the selling of the forms well continue to the deadline date.
It will be recalled that the creation of new wards by the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) came under intense scrutiny, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Imo State Chapter hit ISIEC describing the electoral commission as an illegal body.
The party, ostensibly furious with the commission, over plans to hold local government election in the state soon, said the exercise will be one in futility.
The statement signed by Blyden Amajirionwu, publicity Secretary of the party read “The state PDP wishes to draw the attention of the good people of Imo state to the fact that the existence of the current ISIEC is a matter of litigation in a competent Court of law in the state and therefore any action taken by them is subjudice”.
The party said it sees ISIEC’s attempt as an action in futility just as that of the Community Government Council (CGC), and at best, an action intended to extort money from unsuspecting Imo communities.
