Barely a week after the landmark judgement by the Supreme Court granting financial autonomy to local government authorities in the country, at least 13 states have begun preparing to hold council elections.
The states that have commenced council poll preparations include Kaduna, Kogi, Bauchi, Katsina, Osun, Enugu, Benue, Rivers, Jigawa, Imo, Kebbi, Abia, and Anambra states.
Recall that the apex court had declared it unconstitutional for state governors to hold funds allocated for the local government councils.
In the judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the seven-man panel held that the 774 local government councils in the country should manage their funds themselves.
The court further declared that a state government had no power to appoint a caretaker committee and a local government council was only recognisable with a democratically elected government.
The apex court barred the state governors from receiving, retaining or spending the local government allocation.
On Tuesday, July 16, the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (SIECOM) scheduled the council poll for October 19, 2024.
The Kaduna SIECOM consists chairperson, Hajara Mohammed, explained that the current council officials members were sworn into office on November 1, 2021, and would end their three-year tenure on October 31, 2024.
“The current council members were sworn into office on 1 November 2021 and will end their three-year tenure on 31 October. KAD-SIECOM is responsible for organising the elections of chairpersons, vice-chairpersons, and councillors in the state,” she said.
“In consonance with the provision of section 25(1) of the KAD-SIECOM Law 2024, the general public is hereby informed that the LGA council election will be held in Kaduna on Saturday, 19th October 2024, between 8am and 4pm.
“The commission issues the election timetable today, Tuesday 16th July 2024. The 2024 election guidelines have been released with the election timetable KAD-SIECOM is ready to conduct the election on the set date.”
Similarly, the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission also announced October 19 for the local government election across the state.
Addressing a stakeholders’ meeting in Lokoja on Tuesday, chairman of the electoral commission, Mamman Eri, said the decision was in line with the provision of the Constitution and the powers vested in the state Independent Electoral Commission.
Eri explained that a comprehensive timetable and schedule of activities had been prepared to ensure a transparent, fair and credible electoral process.
Also, the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission has fixed August 19 for the local government elections in the state.
The chairman of the commission, Alhaji Ahmad Makama, who disclosed this at a news conference on Tuesday in Bauchi, said all necessary arrangements had been concluded to ensure free and fair elections.
He reiterated the commitment of the commission to conduct a credible and transparent election, urging citizens to come out and vote for their preferred candidates across the parties on election day.
Also, the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission has fixed August 19 for the local government elections in the state.
The chairman of the commission, Alhaji Ahmad Makama, who disclosed this at a news conference on Tuesday in Bauchi, said all necessary arrangements had been concluded to ensure free and fair elections.
He restated that the commitment of the commission to conduct a credible and transparent election, urging citizens to come out and vote for their preferred candidates across the parties on election day.
Rivers, Kogi, and 11 other states are gearing up for local government elections post a Supreme Court verdict
