Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has appealed to the residents to be peaceful in Saturday’s local government elections in the state.
Governor Okorocha made the plea in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Sam Onwuemeodo.
The statement read, “This is to inform the general public that on Saturday, August 25, 2018, Imo people will be electing 27 Chairmen for the 27 local governments in the state and about 645 Councillors, in the local government election slated for Saturday, August 25, 2018, and to be conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC).”
“In line with the vision of Governor Rochas Okorocha and policy of the state government to take government to the communities, the State House of Assembly enacted a law that has warranted every autonomous community to elect a Councillor, with the state now having about 645 autonomous communities,” it added.
The governor stressed the need to take the government to the people at the grassroots, saying this prompted his administration to come up with the idea of Community Government Council (CGC) which he said transformed most of the communities in terms of development.
Having seen the impact of the CGC in the communities, he disclosed that an executive bill was sent to the State House of Assembly for a law that would enable autonomous communities to elect their councillors.
Okorocha explained that while the councillors would be the link between the State and local governments and the communities, they would work hand-in-glove with their respective traditional rulers for the progress of their communities.
He urged the electorate to vote for the chairmanship and councillorship candidates of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the elections, saying the APC government has done well in the state in the last seven years.
The governor also called for peaceful conducts on the part of the political parties and candidates taking part in the polls.
He asked ISIEC to ensure that the process was free and fair.
