The Abia State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has issued an ultimatum to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to conduct election into the Local Government councils.

This is as a reaction to the delay in conducting council polls.

The party, in a statement by its state Publicity Secretary, Ben Godson, noted that the prevailing system of appointing transition committee chairmen to administer the councils cannot bring development to the grassroots and urged the governor to conduct the polls without further delay.

They call on the media, civil society groups and the public to join to demand for council polls, saying that the scant attention paid to local governments by the media had made some persons use the councils as channels for compensating political loyalists.

Meanwhile, the state government had promised to hold election into the 17 council areas before the end of the year, although this is doubtful because of the failed previous promises since the expiration of the tenure of last council executives elected under Governor Okezie Ikpeazu administration in December 2018.

At the expiration, the government has continued to appoint Transition Committees to administer the 17 council areas. However, the state Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi-Kalu, has assured that the state would conduct council polls before the end of the year, adding that Governor Ikpeazu was committed to having a democratic government at the councils.

Okiyi-Kalu disclosed that the 17 council areas in the state are autonomous in managing their resources, an account disputed by some appointed councilors, who pleaded not to be quoted.

Okiyi-Kalu said: “We are planning to hold local government polls this year. It will hold before the end of the year 2020. Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is committed to having democratic government at the local governments.

“I can assure you that the 17 local government councils in Abia State have autonomy in managing their funds.”