Ahead of the Local Council Elections scheduled for September 21 across Imo State’s 27 LGAs and 305 INEC registered Wards, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has just completed its primaries.
The primaries, which took place on August 3, 2024, were described as peaceful by the State Chairman, Amb. Ifeanyi Eluwa. All 27 LGAs and 305 Wards held their primaries in line with the ISIEC timetable, and all aspirants were returned unopposed.
Only three women are running for the councillorship seats. The process was monitored by Kingsley Chidi Ubah from the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC), who praised the primaries as very transparent.
“Although the candidates were elected via consensus, ISIEC is satisfied with the process and democratic resolution of SDP. I charge the party to follow ISIEC rules in the main LG Polls,” Ubah said.
Prince Bright Obinna Ekwebelem, the party’s leader and 2023 governorship candidate, emphasized that SDP is committed to good governance, internal democracy, and supporting serious candidates. “SDP is going to take over local government administration in Imo State because it believes in human dignity, development, and progress,” Ekwebelem stated.
Eluwa, the State Chairman, expressed his satisfaction with the primaries, noting that they were held successfully across all LGAs and Wards. “All aspirants were returned unopposed, and results were fairly collated in Owerri on the same day,” he said.
He added that the SDP is ready to win a majority of the council seats, aiming to bring democratic governance and improve life in rural areas. “We will win the elections because we want to internalize democracy and good governance at the grassroots so that rural dwellers can enjoy life fully and comfortably,” Eluwa concluded.
Eluwa also thanked the Governor for supporting the LG Elections and urged ISIEC to ensure the council elections are free, fair, and peaceful.
