The Chairman of the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission , Ethelbert Ibebuchi , has rendered an unreserved apology to the people of the state over the inability of the electoral umpire to conduct the local government and councillorship elections in seven years .
Ibebuchi , who tendered the apology while addressing critical stakeholders at the ISIEC headquarters in Owerri , the state capital, ,announced that LGAs and councillorship elections would hold on July 14 .
He said , “ISIEC regrets that elections into the local government councils ought to have come before now .
“However , this couldn ’t be on account of mounting challenges for which strenuous efforts have been deployed in order to put things right .”
Ibebuchi , who promised a peaceful , free and fair election , added , “Our democracy has come to stay and most of us will concur in the affirmative . For our democratic ethics , norms and values to be sustained , the grassroots have critical roles to play .”
