In the aftermath of last Thursday’s Supreme Court judgment banning federal allocation to councils administered by caretaker committees, at least 13 states have fixed dates for Local Government elections.
These states, including Kaduna, Kogi, Bauchi, Katsina, Osun, Enugu, Benue, Rivers, Jigawa, Imo, Kebbi, Abia, and Anambra, have initiated preparations for the council polls.
In Kaduna State, the Independent Electoral Commission announced that the council election will take place on October 19, 2024. This follows the Supreme Court’s ruling that declared unconstitutional the practice of state governors handling funds allocated to local government councils.
Justice Emmanuel Agim, delivering the judgment on behalf of a seven-man panel, emphasized the autonomy of local governments and the imperative of elected councils over caretaker committees.
“The state’s retention of local government funds is unconstitutional,” Justice Agim declared, ending the governors’ practice of appointing caretaker committees.
Following the landmark verdict, stakeholders like Finance Minister Wale Edun and Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) are slated to meet with the Federal Accounts and Allocation Committee to discuss implementation.
In Kaduna, Chairperson Hajara Mohammed of the State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM) confirmed the election date, citing the end of the current council members’ three-year tenure on October 31, 2024.
Similarly, the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission set October 19 for its local government election, ensuring transparency and adherence to electoral laws.
Bauchi State scheduled its elections for August 19, reiterating its commitment to a credible electoral process devoid of rigging.
Other states like Enugu, Benue, Kebbi, Rivers, Kwara, Imo, Katsina, and Osun have also begun preparations, with varying election dates set into 2025.
However, in Ondo State, election preparations have been postponed due to political parties’ failure to comply with election guidelines, despite earlier schedules for February and July 2024.
The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) announced its intention to reconvene stakeholders and engage the governor before proceeding with further election plans.
The postponement has sparked reactions from political stakeholders, with the Inter-party Advisory Council expressing readiness for dialogue to ensure credible elections.
Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Party attributed ODIEC’s decision to the waning popularity of the All Progressives Congress in the state.
These developments reflect a significant shift in Nigeria’s local governance landscape following the Supreme Court’s decisive ruling on local government autonomy and electoral processes.
Punch