Following the recent landmark decision by the Supreme Court granting financial autonomy to local government authorities in Nigeria, 13 states have already begun preparations for upcoming council elections. These states include Kaduna, Kogi, Bauchi, Katsina, Osun, Enugu, Benue, Rivers, Jigawa, Imo, Kebbi, Abia, and Anambra.
The Supreme Court ruling deemed it unconstitutional for state governors to withhold funds allocated for local government councils.According to the ruling delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, a seven-man panel of the Supreme Court confirmed that the 774 local government councils in Nigeria should have full control over their funds.
The court explicitly stated that a state government does not possess the authority to appoint a caretaker committee, and a local government council can only be recognized when it has a democratically elected government.
The Supreme Court also prohibited state governors from receiving, retaining, or utilizing the allocation meant for the local government councils. The Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (SIECOM) has announced that the council election will take place on October 19, 2024.
Hajara Mohammed, the chairperson of Kaduna SIECOM, clarified that the current council officials began their term on November 1, 2021, and will serve a three-year tenure until October 31, 2024.
She stated, “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.”
“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.”
The Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission has announced that the local government election in the state will take place on October 19. The commission’s chairman, Mamman Eri, made this announcement during a stakeholders’ meeting in Lokoja. The decision to hold the election on that date was based on the provisions of the Constitution and the authority vested in the state Independent Electoral Commission.
The Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission, led by Mamman Eri, has prepared a transparent and fair timetable for the local government elections. In Bauchi State, the elections are scheduled for August 19, according to the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission chaired by Ahmad Makama.
Both commissions are committed to conducting credible and transparent elections, urging citizens to vote for their preferred candidates across party lines. The Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission has scheduled the local government elections in the state for August 19. Chairman Alhaji Ahmad Makama assured that all necessary arrangements have been made to ensure free and fair elections.
The commission remains committed to conducting a credible and transparent election and urges citizens to vote for their preferred candidates from all parties on the election day.
