The Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has dissolved all the 21 Local Government Transition Chairmen in the State.
The Governor also directed the sacked TC Chairmen to hand over the affairs of the councils to the Heads of Local Government Administrations (HLGAs). The order, directed the sacked Chairmen to hand over to the HLGAs latest on Monday, May 20.
This was contained in a letter signed by the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Collins Nwabunwanne, dated May 17, and cited by IVNTV NEWS
The letter read: “Following the expiration of your tenure as Transition Committee Chairman, you are hereby directed to handover the affairs of your Local Government Council to the Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA), in your respective Local Government Councils.
“This directive takes effect from Monday, 20th day of May, 2024. Thank you for your service to the State.
“All replies to be addressed to the Honourable Commissioner,” the letter stated.
The sacking of the TC Chairman, according to some analyst is not unconnected with the expectations that Soludo would conduct Local Government election in the State.
Recall that this has been a recurring political debate between the opposition and the APGA ruling party.
The opposition have continually accused Soludo of not wanting to conduct the Local Government election in the State.
But in response to the pressure, the Governor last week directed APGA party stakeholders to nominate candidates in their Local Government Areas for Transition Committees.
Soludo had directed that out of the three nomination, one must be a woman from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) stakeholders.
The message was conveyed to all the Transition Committee Chairmen by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu.
The directive stated: “The party stakeholders in each Local Government are expected to meet on May 18th or 19th 2024. To consider and recommend for his consideration, three persons for the position of TC Chairman. And three persons for Local Government Education Secretaries.
“The three recommendations for Transition Committee Chairmen shall include at least one woman. While the three recommendations for Education Secretary shall be two women and one man.”
Recall that Anambra State is one of the States in the country that does not conduct LG elections. The last known Local Government election conducted in the State was during Peter Obi’s second tenure. The transition committee system has become a norm.
The last Local Government election was held by the former Governor, Peter Obi. And that was few weeks before the expiration of his second tenure
This development has always pitched the opposition against the ruling party. The opposition parties and major stakeholders had been calling for elections into the Local Government system.
They have therefore, accused the State Governors of stifling Local government system in the State through transition committee chairmen.
source: The Nation
