The flag-off which was held at the Isoko Development Union (IDU), Secretariat, Oleh roundabout, Isoko south Council area was organized for Chairmanship candidates of the various political parties in the election but was only honoured by the All Progressives Congress Chairmanship candidates from both councils.
The two APC Chairmanship candidates who honoured the invitation are Mr. Cornelius Ugoh, Isoko north and Mrs. Hopelyn Eruore, Isoko south.
Reacting on the ugly development, Chairman of NUJ in the state, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu, condemned in strong terms the nonchalant attitude of those who shun the invitation.
Miffed by the absence of other chairmanship candidates from the two local government areas, Ikeogwu noted that the NUJ was not a political party, neither was it partisan in its approaches.
He pointed out that the event was carefully put in place by the Union to present the aspiring chairmen and their manifestos to the electorates for assessment.
He warned that the era of stampeding the electorates to cast their votes for unpopular candidates in an election in the state was over, adding that the NUJ was determined to play its constitutional mandate of being the Fourth Estate of the Realm and watchdog of the society by making those in government responsive and accountable to the electorates.
Comrade Ikeogwu said that those chairmanship candidates who still harbour the erroneous belief that winning the primaries of a giant party is an automatic ticket to seat comfortably as the chairman of any local government council in the state should have a rethink, adding that the NUJ would ensure that the votes of the electorates would count henceforth in all elections in the state.
Comrade Ikeogwu opined that the fortune of local government administration in the country had continued to nosedive owing to the low capacity of some of those entrusted with the control of the councils.
According to him, if elections to such councils became mere window dressings, the grassroots populace would continue to suffer deprivations, poor leadership and representative, just as he disclosed that the Union would continue to make bare the scorecards of every local government chairman in the state for proper assessment by the general public.
