By Tony Edike, Enugu
Today’s local government elections in 17 councils of Enugu State is mere affirmation as the opposition political parties declined to field candidates for the poll.

Chairman of Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission, ENSIEC, Dr Boniface Eneh confirmed yesterday that only the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presented Chairmanship and Councilorship candidates in all the 17 councils while two other parties including the Action Congress of Nigeria are fielding Chairmanship candidates in Awgu and Isiuzo councils.

Although Eneh could not explain why majority of  opposition parties decided to back out of the council elections, some party leaders in the state had said that they lacked confidence in the ability of ENSIEC to conduct a credible election.

They had condemned the imposition of nomination fees of N200,000 and N50,000 on the Chairmanship and Councilorship candidates respectively by the electoral body saying it would be unwise to spend such huge sum only for the ruling party to be declared winner of all the seats as was the case in the previous elections in the state.

Meanwhile, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has reassured that today’s Local Government Elections would be peaceful and hitch free.

having worked very hard to sweep the polls.

Meanwhile,  Governor Chime gave this assurance of a peaceful poll during the grand finale of the state PDP  campaign tour of the 17 local government areas at theheadquarters of Udi local government, called on the people of the state to embrace peace and unity to ensure rapid development in the state.

Chime said that he was not only in the local government for the PDP campaign but to thank the people of the area for the support they gave the party in the April elections in which all the PDP candidates emerged victorious.

The governor urged them not to relent in supporting the party and thanked the people for the confidence reposed on him.

He commended the outgoing Chairman of Udi local government, Hon Bona Udeh for having performed creditably during his short period in office, especially in the area of maintaining peace and unity in the local government area.