Victor EzejaBy Victor Ezeja
President-General of the Ojoto Town Union in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Donatus Anozie, has said that the practice of suspending town union elections during every state election season is to forestall political tension in communities and avoid distractions.
Chief Anozie in a chat with Prime Business Africa said it had been the usual practice to suspend town union and chieftancy elections and appointments across the state when a major election approaches to have stable political environment for successful polls and transition of government.
The state government on Wednesday lifted the ban on election of town union executives and chieftancy positions.
READ ALSO: Town Unions Hint On How Suspending Community Politics Prevented Pre-election Violence In Anambra
Anozie said the the ban, which was placed when party primaries for candidates that contested the 2021 governorship election in the state started, was in order.
He said: “In the build-up to governorship elections, the state government usually place embargo on town union elections; not only town union, but also election of Igwes , youth unions and any form of community election. Why they do that is for the state government not to have divided attention, because all efforts are usually geared towards ensuring the success of the election. They don’t want a situation whereby there could be conflict; because, in any election, there must be winner and loser. If one loses, he may start feeling cheated and accuse the winner and those in government of having used the state machinery to ease him out. That’s why government said that everyone should focus on the election.
READ ALSO: Anambra Lifts Ban On Town Union, Chieftaincy Elections
“Every government, even you and I have interests. Government’s interest is to deliver their party, so they don’t want anybody to pick offence that APGA, PDP, or APC is the cause of their loses in the election. In the time of Peter Obi it was like that. An embargo was placed on town union elections, but after the election, like this one had come and gone, they lifted the ban.”
With the November 6 Governorship Election, which produced Prof Chukwuma Soludo as governor successfully concluded, the state decided to lift the ban. While announcing suspension of the ban, Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Chief Greg Obi said that the community-based activities should resume but be conducted in strict compliance with laid-down procedures and constitution of each community.
Anozie said it was a welcome development to prevent crisis, adding that he was happy the ban had been lifted so that elections could be organised for youths of his town in Ojoto.
“In our own town, Ojoto, we have been waiting for this ban to be lifted so that we can organise youth elections for youth executives, whose tenure has expired.”
He said the town union elections are done in a transparent manner in consultation with the people who choose the leadership by themselves.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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