Imo APC Confident Of Victory In Local Government Elections, Promises Free, Fair Contest

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is poised to win the upcoming Local Government elections on Saturday, September 21, 2024.

Uzodimma assured a massive crowd of over 250,000 party supporters at the grand finale rally in Owerri that the contest would be conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner, as promised by the Imo State Independent Election Commission.

At the rally, APC National Chairman Dr Abdullahi Ganduje presented the APC flag to the 27 Chairmanship and 305 Ward Councillorship candidates, emphasising the critical role of local government representatives as “foundation builders” of society.

Governor Uzodimma expressed confidence in the APC’s victory, highlighting the candidates’ popularity in their communities and the importance of the grand finale rally in demonstrating party unity and support. He also emphasised President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to local government autonomy, noting that Imo State has adopted this principle to strengthen local governments.

Uzodimma acknowledged the delay in local government elections since 2021 due to security concerns but assured the public that the elections would be conducted fairly and transparently, inviting all parties to participate.

In his speech, the Governor urged the candidates to view their candidature as a shared responsibility and to work towards inclusive leadership.

He reiterated his earlier promise to refund unsuccessful aspirants’ form fees, describing it as an unprecedented move in democratic history. He also stated that efforts would be made to accommodate some aspirants in other open positions.

The rally received a significant boost with the defection of key figures from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Aboh Mbaise, including Hon. Dr. Alex Emeziem, former Deputy Majority Leader in the Imo State House of Assembly, and Hon. Chief Cletus Ugwo, former Chairman of the Aboh Mbaise Council. They cited the APC’s vision and commitment as the motivation for their decision.

With the campaign trail winding down, the APC in Imo State is confident of a strong showing in the upcoming Local Government elections, promising a free and fair contest for all candidates.