Court Orders Stopped Us From Conducting LG Election In Abia - ABSIEC Boss

The Chairman of Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa, has revealed that the commission failed to conduct the local government election due to two restraining court orders. 

The election was scheduled to be held on Friday, May 19, 2023.

But an Abia State High Courts sitting in Bende and Arochukwu judicial divisions restrained the commission from conducting the polls.

Mkpa explained that the commission was yet to vacate court injunctions from the Arochukwu and Bende High Courts, which restrained ABSIEC from conducting the election.

Vanguard gathered that the strike declared by the judiciary workers in the state also made it impossible for the workers of the commission to resume work for the polls.

“Incidentally, we have some encumbrances, hitches here and there.

"Our offices are under lock by NLC and they went there to chase everyone out.

"There is no chance that the situation would improve by tomorrow when the election is supposed to be held.

“Furthermore, we are expecting that two court orders served us from Arochukwu and Bende High courts baring us from conducting the election would be vacated.

"ABSIEC, as a law-abiding commission, we wouldn’t want to be charged for contempt of court.

"So, we are waiting for the court order to be vacated.

“We are also hoping that Labour would resolve their issues and allow our workers to return to their offices.

"As a result of the court injunction, parties have also not come out to purchase forms, and the time is fast-moving. I’m afraid, it’s neither here nor there.”