By DELIGHT CHINEDUM, AWKA
The recent Supreme Court ruling which grated full financial and administrative autonomy to the local government areas may have waken the various state governments from their slumber as the rush to conduct local council election has sparked off
Recall that the Supreme Court had last month in a landmark judgement ruled that local government areas administrators should have un interrupted control of all financial and administrative control of the councils, as against the current trend where the various state governors direct the affairs of the councils
The Court similarly ruled that the all allocations to local government must be direct to LGs, while ordering that no allocation should be forwarded to local government areas without elected administrators
Prior to the Supreme Court ruling, local governments were being administered by appointees of the various state governors in forms of caretaker or Sole administrators
The Supreme Court ruling has however sparked off the rush by governors to conduct Local Government Area election, especially as the local government allocations for the month of July were withheld and not paid into the joint accounts with states
In the erush to conduct the LG polls, the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) released the guidelines for the local government elections scheduled for November 16.
OGSIEC Chairman Mr. Babatunde Osibodu, speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abeokuta, announced that the elections will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Osibodu, represented by Commissioner Mr. Olatunji Akoni, emphasized the role of the public in the elections. The meeting aimed to build confidence among political parties, associations, and community leaders.
The chairman noted that the commission’s goal is to ensure free, fair, and credible elections, setting a standard for future elections in the state.
“OGSIEC is promoting gender sensitivity and has set administrative charges for political parties: N250,000 for chairmanship candidates, N150,000 for male councillorship candidates, and N100,000 for female councillorship candidates. The reduced fee for female candidates aims to increase women’s participation in local governance,” Osibodu stated, while assuring that the elections would be transparent
In a related development Gov. Chukwuma Soludo,of Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, on Wednesday, inaugurated the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC.
A statement issued by Christian Aburime, Press Secretary to the governor, indicated that Magistrate Chinelo Genevieve Osakwe is Chairman of the Commission
The statement listed other members of the commission as Mrs. Bernadine Obande, Barr. Osita Cyril Igbokwe, Sir Chinedu Anthony Nnalue, Mrs. Helen Ifeyinwa Umeh and Mr. John Emeka Okeke.
The inauguration, of the commission took place at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia,, marked a great shift from the past administrations of the state as local government administration has remained in the hand of governor’s appointees for over one decade
Terms of reference of the members include organizing, undertaking, and supervising all elections and matters pertaining to elections to the elective offices in the local government councils in the state, render such advice as it may consider necessary to the Independent National Electoral Commission on the compilation of the register of voters In so far as that register is applicable to the Local Government of the State, prescribe guidelines to political parties, stipulating the rules and procedure for the conduct of Local Government elections in the State, conduct voter and civic education.
Others are to promote knowledge of sound democratic election processes, conduct any referendum or plebiscite required to be conducted pursuant to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution(as amended) or any law of the State, prepare and submit its budget directly to the House of Assembly, liaise directly with the Commissioner of Police, Director, State Security Service, and other relevant security bodies that may facilitate violence-free and fair elections; consult regularly with all registered political parties in the State and ensure free flow of information about the Commission, appoint a lawyer to defend the Commission and prosecute anyone who violates the provisions of the law, assign poll clerks and orderlies in respect of each polling station or unit to assist at the poll and perform such other functions as may be conferred on it by Law.
The functions of the Commission under paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section shall include the division of the area of the Local Government, into such number of ward or constituencies as are prescribed by law for the purpose of the elections to be conducted by the Commission.
In the exercise of its function under paragraph (a) of sub-section (1) and under sub-section (2) of this section, the Commission shall use the Voters Registers compiled by the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria.
Inaugurating the members of the Commission, Governor Soludo stressed that they have been called to perform an onerous task, especially as it concerns the conduct of local government election in the state.
While stating that the law clearly spelt out their wide range of functions, the governor asked them to expedite action and set a date for the conduct of local government election for ndị Anambra.
He charged them on rendering sterling service with honour and integrity, recalled that the conduct of a local government election was a major promise he made to ndị Anambra when he was inaugurated and emphasized that crafting the law and getting the institution up and running, took some time
“The rest of the job is in your hands. People of Anambra are expecting you to hit the ground running.
“When you are done, announce to the people when you’ll hold elections. I’ve done my job.
“Ndị Anambra, here comes your ANSIEC Commissioners”, the Governor added.
On her part, the ANSIEC Chairman, Magistrate Osakwe, expressed happiness for being given the opportunity to serve.
“This is a big task. We will wade through the storm.
“Ndị Anambra will be grateful after our work. We will render this service diligently and transparently.
“This is a formidable team. We’ll do our work and do it well, “she emphasized.
The Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, Secretary to the State Government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, Head of Service, Barr. Theodora Igwegbe, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Sylvia Ifemeje, former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uche Okafor, SA on Legal matters, Tobechukwu Nweke SAN, and other members of the State Executive Council were present at the event”
In Plateau, the State Independent Electoral Commission (PLSEIC) has adjusted activities in the buildup to the October 9th local government election.
The Chairman of the Commission, Hon. Plangji Daniel Cisshak, who disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday, said the adjustment was to ensure that political parties that have earlier scheduled their primaries and have notified the Commission within the period of protest and curfew in the Jos/Bukuru metropolis are not disenfranchised.
According to him, the adjustments will ensure that the election process continues smoothly while maintaining the integrity and fairness of the electoral system.
He added that PLASIEC remained fully committed to ensuring that all political parties participate in the election without any disadvantages and reassured the public and all stakeholders that the rescheduling would not affect the fairness or transparency of the election process.
“We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of all political parties, aspirants, and voters as we navigate these challenges. PLASIEC will continue to provide updates and further information as necessary to ensure a smooth and effective election process.”
He emphasised that despite the rescheduled of some of the activities, the council polls shall be conducted by the seventeen (17) local government councils of Plateau State on Wednesday, 9th October 2024, between 8.00 a.m. and 3.00 pm
He added that all prospective candidates are expected to obtain nomination forms in respect of the election into the offices of Chairmen and Councilors of the 17 Local Government Councils from the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission.
Similarly, local government area elections habe been fixed in Imo and Rivers States, marking a sharp departure from the running of the various councils with governor’s appointtees
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP advised the newly constituted Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC to be independent and transparent in its conduct of local government elections.
Chairman of the PDP in Anambra, Mr Chigozie Igwe, gave the advice on Thursday in Awka, in reaction to the constitution of the new ANSIEC.
Igwe, who welcomed the constitution and inauguration of the electoral body, called on it to adhere to the principles of transparency, fairness, and impartiality before and during the elections.
“The PDP in Anambra wishes to call on ANSIEC to ensure that all eligible voters are given the opportunity to participate in the electoral process without any form of intimidation or harassment.
“We will not accept any form of manipulation or rigging in the upcoming local government elections; as a party, we are fully prepared and positioned to win the majority of the elections,” he said.
The PDP chairman stated that the party had commenced strategic preparations for the yet-to-be-scheduled local government elections.
He expressed confidence in the ability of the party to win a majority of the councils when it is conducted.
According to him, the PDP is the most accepted party in Anambra and assured that it would remain committed to democratic principles and ensure that the electoral will of the people prevailed