The Supreme Court judgment of July 11, 2024, has prompted many States to fix the conduct of Local Government elections in their States.
Among these are the Kogi and Kaduna States. This is following the announcement by the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission, SIEC.
In the announcement yesterday, the Commission said it has fixed October 19, 2024, for the conduct of LG elections.
In the Same light, the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission, SIEC, also announced October 19, 2024, date for the conduct of the LG election in the State.
The decisions by the two States to conduct the council elections might not be unconnected to the financial autonomy granted to the Local Government administration by the Supreme Court.
The Apex Court held that the Local Governments across the country should, from the date of the judgment, receive their allocations directly from office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. The court also described the caretaker committee as illegal in the eye of the Constitution.
Recall that the Kogi State House of Assembly had on July 5, 2024, extended the tenure of Transition Committee Chairmen by another six months.
The extension was a sequel to a letter sent to the House by Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo.
Mamman Nda-Eri stated this at the first stakeholders meeting in Lokoja on Tuesday. He stated this while presenting the election timetable to the stakeholders for approval.
Nda-Eri said, “The date for the Local Government Election has been fixed for October 19, 2024.
He assured all the political parties in the state, that the council election activities have been designed for inclusivity, transparency, and adherence to electoral laws.
Nda-Eri said the fixings were by the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended. And with the powers vested in the State Independent Electoral Commission.
He said a comprehensive timetable schedule of activities has been prepared to ensure a transparent, fair and credible electoral process.
‘’We assure you that these activities have been designed with utmost consideration for inclusivity, transparency and adherence to electoral laws. In the timetable made available, each candidate for the Counsellorship election is expected to deposit N100,000 to the Commission. While 250,000 is to be deposited by the Chairmanship candidate.
“Similarly, anyone who has been dismissed from the public or civil service of the Federation or a State or Local Government Area or private employment is not qualified to contest for any of the positions.
“Also, anyone who has been found guilty of an offence involving narcotic drugs. Or any other psychotropic substance by any court in Nigeria or tribunal in Nigeria. Or any other country cannot vie for any of the elective positions in the Election,” he stated.
He, therefore, solicited the continued support and collaboration of stakeholders for the successful conduct of the election.
The SIEC Chairman, however, urged the political parties to strictly adhere to the rules of the game.
In related development, the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission, KAD-SIECOM, announced date forn the LG election. It stated that the Local Government election in the State has been scheduled for October 19, 2024.
The Commission’s chairperson, Hajara Mohammed, announced the date on Tuesday.
The announcement was made during a meeting the Commission had with political parties and other concerned individuals in Kaduna.
Addressing the stakeholders, Mohammed noted that the current Council members were sworn into office on November 1, 2021. Their three-year tenure will end on October 31, 2024.
She pointed that KAD-SIECOM is responsible for organizing the elections for the Council.
The statement read, “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, October 19, 2024, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The Chairperson further added that the 2024 LG election guidelines have been released with the election timetable.
She assured concerned parties that the Commission was ready to conduct the election on the set date.
The Commission made the announcement the on Tuesday, July 16, 2024.
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