The Association of Igbo Town Unions, (ASITU), has tasked members of the union to check the background of candidates of political parties before casting their votes during the 2027 general elections.
ASITU urged the members to shun people who would want to use money to influence them to support bad candidates during the polls.
Chief Emeka Diwe, National President of ASITU, who addressied elected members of the Association in Aba, noted that it will not be in the interest of the people to elect candidates who have no capacity to deliver democracy dividends.
He described the town union as a body that has the highest population across the communities and political wards in Igbo land.
He said, “Preparation for the 2027 general elections has started.” Town Union members must be cautious about those who would come to you with money to make you vote for them.
“I urge you to check the background of such candidates because they may not mean well for the people. You must be careful so that you won’t make the mistake of electing candidates who will abandon the people as soon as they are elected.
“They will only return when it is time for the next elections. Such a person is not fit to be called a representative or a senator. So, we must work with people who are conscious of development because the cardinal objective of town unionism is grassroots development.”
Diwe tasked the town union members to note that they have a duty to enlighten their people to support people who are conscious of development.
“Town Unions are only for development. This is why we say, ‘Town Union, Development to the Grassroots’. To get the type of development we desire, we must check the background of candidates before we eject them.”
He debunked reports that town unions are political structures which are set up for the purposes of election, stressing that town union members have the right to be partisan while the union is apolitical.
“Town Union is apolitical, but its members can belong to any political party of their choice. Town unions do not support any political party. Town Union is the only identity of the Igbo man that has stood the test of time. I assure you that it is the most democratic structure found in Igbo land.
“Town Unions can guide members on political decisions, particularly the election of quality people in leadership positions in the society, but a town union is not a political organisation.”
