By Kenechukwu Ofomah, Awka
The continued delay by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a by-election for the Anambra South Senatorial zone has denied people of the zone numerous democratic dividends, due to the absence of a representative for the zone in the Upper House.
Recall that the former Senator representing the zone, Dr Ifeanyi Ubah, had died last year while on an abroad trip, and has since been buried.
The two-term Senator, who won elections on the platform of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), had later decamped to All Progressives Congress (APC last year over speculation he had gubernatorial aspirations.
Till now, the INEC has yet to conduct an election to replace the late senator.
Speaking to newsmen on Tuesday in Onitsha, Anambra State, the State Chairman of the Civil Liberty Organization, Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme observed that the Anambra South Senatorial zone has suffered serious and marginalization as a result of non-representation in the Senate.
He appealed to the INEC to commence without further delay, processes towards conducting a credible Anambra South Senatorial Election.
“It is a very unfortunate and pathetic scenario in Anambra because when such a vacant seat occurred as a result of the nullification of the election of the occupant in court in Anambra North Senatorial Zone a few years ago, it took INEC nearly two years to conduct bye-election after incessant appeals by CLO and other stakeholders.
“It is an irrefutable truth that many aspirants have been wasting money mobilizing citizens and residents for the election to no avail, as INEC has refused to fix a date for the election.
“Anambra South has incurred monumental losses in both political participation and appointments, as well as in infrastructural development, since the past year that their voices have not been heard in the Senate.
“No constituency project has also been executed due to the absence of a Senator representing the zone.
“We appeal to Senate President Chief Godswill Akpabio, and the Senate Services Commission to ensure that all monies that accrue to Anambra South Senatorial Zone are kept in a special account to be handed over to a new senator when elected,” he noted.
Ezekwueme further berated the state’s political leaders for failing to lend their voices in drawing the attention of INEC to do the needful, acknowledging that their silence has contributed to INEC’s inaction.
