By John Joseph
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In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has prohibited federal allocation to council being administered by caretaker committees, prompting 13 states to fix dates for Local Government elections. This move is seen as a significant step towards strengthening democracy and granting financial autonomy to local governments.
The states that have commenced council poll preparations include Kaduna, Kogi, Bauchi, Katsina, Osun, Enugu, Benue, Rivers, Jigawa, Imo, Kebbi, Abia, and Anambra states. Each state has set its own dates for the elections, with some scheduling them as early as August and others in October or November.Kaduna StateThe Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission has scheduled the council poll for October 19, 2024.
“The current council members were sworn into office on November 1, 2021, and will end their three-year tenure on October 31, 2024,” said Hajara Mohammed, Chairperson of the Kaduna SIECOM. “We are ready to conduct the election on the set date.
“Kogi StateThe Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission has also announced October 19 for the local government election across the state. “We assure you that these activities have been designed with utmost consideration for inclusivity, transparency, and adherence to electoral laws,” said Mamman Eri, Chairman of the electoral commission.
Bauchi StateThe Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission has fixed August 19 for the local government elections in the state. “We have organised a series of meetings with political parties, security chiefs, and relevant stakeholders, as part of the election preparations,” said Alhaji Ahmad Makama, Chairman of the commission.
Ondo StateHowever, the preparation for the council election in Ondo State has been put on hold. “No single political party complied with the guidelines of the proposed election, despite the issuance of guidelines for the election,” said Dr Joseph Aremo, Chairman of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission.Supreme Court VerdictThe Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional for state governors to hold funds allocated for the local government councils.
“A democratically elected local government is sacrosanct and non-negotiable,” said Justice Emmanuel Agim. “The use of a caretaker committee by the state governments to administer the local government violated the 1999 Constitution.”The court further asserted that the local government areas should be governed by a democratically elected government, and that the 36 state governors had no power to dissolve democratically elected local government councils to replace them with caretaker committees.
Reaction”The Supreme Court verdict is a victory for democracy and the rule of law,” said Ken Mozia, a legal expert. “It’s a significant blow to the Edo State government’s attempts to silence opposition voices.
“This ruling is a game-changer,” said Festus Okeke, a political analyst. “It shows that the judiciary is willing to stand up to the executive and protect the rights of citizens.”As the states prepare for the local government elections, there is a sense of excitement and anticipation among the citizens. “I’m eager to exercise my right to vote and choose my local government representatives,” said Adaora Iwuagwu, a resident of Enugu State.
The conduct of the local government elections is expected to be a significant step towards deepening democracy and ensuring that power is devolved to the grassroots level. As the states move forward with the elections, it is hoped that the process will be free, fair, and credible, and that the will of the people will be respected.