With a date yet to be announced for the Local Government election in Imo State, there is ongoing scramble for the Executive chairmanship positions mainly in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the State.
As part of the process of democratizing the local governments in the State, Governor Emeka Ihediohan had constituted and inaugurated the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission, ISIEC, to work out modalities for a credible local government election in the State.
Reports had filtered in the public domain that the elections will hold in December 2019.
With an Interim Management Committee, IMC in place at the 27 LGAs with a six months tenure, those interested in emerging elected Council Chairmen have begun preparations in earnest.
It was gathered that some of the intending Council Chairmen have besieged political leaders, key stakeholders in their various local governments wooing for support and endorsement even when the whistle for the polls is yet to be blown by the electoral umpire.
It was gathered that those interested in Chairmanship seats have kick started consultations and reach out programmes in their localities to oil their aspiration.
However, it was learnt that some of the present Interim Council chairmen may be interested in retaining their positions by taking part in the polls.
A source had revealed that there is blanket ban on the present Interim Chairmen not to take part in the polls.This newspaper could not verify this information as at press time.
One the Interim Chairmen who spoke on condition of anonymity said “the LGA elections are far away from now. ISIEC is yet to release guidelines for the polls. It is therefore premature to start to talking of LGA election in the State.
“ What is uppermost in our minds is to get the Rebuild Imo mission of Governor Ihedioha to the grassroots and ensure it succeeds.
“ That is my mission and that is the priority for now. Council elections is not the in- thing for now” he concluded.
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