Abia Elders Reject Ikpeazu's Proposed LG Poll

The Abia State Elders Consultative Forum has condemned the proposed Local Government election by the outgoing Governor Okezie Ikpeazu-led Government.

They described the exercise as a landmine against the in-coming administration of Dr Alex Otti.

Vanguard gathered that the council poll may hold on May 19 despite a court injunction against the exercise.

The forum had advised Ikpeazu against going ahead with the poll to avoid plunging the state into avoidable legal war.

According to the forum, it is curious and suspicious for the outgoing government to be bent on the exercise when there are other matters of urgent importance that should bother the Government.

The National President of the forum, Archbishop Princewill Ariwodor, said it was very unlikely for Ikpeazu’s successor to accept the outcome of the election, hence it made no sense waisting public funds on the exercise.

Ariwodor said the exercise was a ploy to pitch the eventual winners of the poll against the incoming Governor in the event that he decided not to recognise them.

He urged Ikpeazu to abide by his earlier promise to hand over a peaceful state and to avoid anything that could be a distraction to his successor.