In the wake of the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment granting financial autonomy to local government authorities, at least 13 states have initiated preparations for council elections.
These states include Kaduna, Kogi, Bauchi, Katsina, Osun, Enugu, Benue, Rivers, Jigawa, Imo, Kebbi, Abia, and Anambra.
The Supreme Court ruling declared it unconstitutional for state governors to control funds allocated to local government councils. Justice Emmanuel Agim, delivering the judgment for a seven-member panel, stated that the 774 local government councils in Nigeria should independently manage their funds.
The court also ruled that state governments cannot appoint caretaker committees and that local government councils must be democratically elected. State governors were barred from receiving, retaining, or spending local government allocations.
Following the ruling, the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM) scheduled the council polls for October 19, 2024. KAD-SIECOM Chairperson Hajara Mohammed explained that current council members, who were sworn in on November 1, 2021, would complete their three-year tenure on October 31, 2024.
“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 8 am and 4 pm,” she announced. The election timetable and guidelines were released on Tuesday, July 16, 2024.
Similarly, the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission announced that local government elections would be held on October 19 across the state. At a stakeholders’ meeting in Lokoja, the commission’s chairman, Mamman Eri, emphasized that the decision aligns with constitutional provisions and the powers vested in the state Independent Electoral Commission. Eri assured stakeholders of a transparent, fair, and credible electoral process, supported by a comprehensive timetable and schedule of activities.
The Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission has set August 19 for local government elections. Commission Chairman Alhaji Ahmad Makama confirmed at a news conference in Bauchi that all necessary arrangements for free and fair elections have been finalized.
Makama reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to conducting a credible and transparent election, encouraging citizens to participate and vote for their preferred candidates.
These developments follow the Supreme Court’s decision to strengthen local government autonomy, aiming to ensure democratic governance at the grassroots level.
