The State Independent Electoral Commissions in Kwara and Anambra States have fixed September 21 and 28 respectively for conduct of Local Government (LG) elections in their respective State.
Recall that on July 11, the Supreme Court ruled on the Local Government autonomy. Part of the ruling is that only a democratically elected council executives are recognized by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is against the practice by most State Governors in appointing Caretaker Committee Chairmen to man the councils.
Therefore, in what seem to be compliance to the Supreme Court ruling, Kwara and Anambra States Independent Electoral Commissions have fixed dates for the conduct of the LG elections in their States.
The Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission said it has set machinery in motion to conduct the Local Government election in September.
However, following the announcement, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) stated its readiness for the exercise. But the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have expressed reservation over the planned election.
Recall that for nearly five years, Kwara State have not conducted local government elections. Therefore, the 16 Local Government Areas in the State have been run by Sole Administrators.
But the recently inaugurated members of the State Independent Electoral Commission said they are ready to conduct the election in the Councils.
In a related development, the Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo finally announced that the Local Government election will hold in the State after two years of coming to power.
The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC, announced this in a press statement on Monday.
Recall that Soludo had a week ago inaugurated the members of the Commission. While inaugurating the electoral body, he charged them to give Anambra a clean and credible polls.
Therefore, in a press statement signed by the Chairman of ANSIEC, Genevieve C. Osakwe, on Monday, the commission said the election would hold on September 28.
It read, “The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC, wishes to inform all registered Political Parties and the general public that Local Government Elections in the State will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2024.
“Election Timetable/Schedule of Activities and Other details can be collected from the Headquarters of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, Awka, from Wednesday, August 14, 2024.”
Recall that since the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on Local Government autonomy, about 15 States have announced or held Local Government elections in the last one month.
The apex court had ordered the Federal Government to pay the 20.60% monthly allocation of the 774 LGs directly into their exclusive accounts.
Supreme Court also barred State Governors from dissolving democratically elected Local Government Councils as has been the practice.
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