Some states have unfolded plans for local government elections, following the Supreme Court judgment which ordered non-release of allocations to councils run by caretaker committees.
The states that have set timetables for polls are Katsina, Osun, Enugu, Sokoto, Abia and Anambra.
Others are Benue, Jigawa, Ondo, Kebbi and Imo.
Today in Abuja, Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Wale Edun, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) and Federal Accounts and Allocation Committee (FAAC) officials will meet to discuss the implementation of the apex court verdict.
An aide to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice told The Nation that the Supreme Court was unambiguous in its verdict.
When asked if the apex court decision had been communicated to the parties, the aide said: “There is no need communicating it to the federal and states’ executives. They were parties to the dispute through their attorneys-general.”
He added: “The Federal Government through remarks of Mr. President has acknowledged the court judgment. So, it’s up to relevant agencies of government to begin immediate implementation.”
The aide listed the Ministry of Finance, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), FAAC representatives and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) as the agencies responsible for implementation.
Reflecting on the judgment, the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) called for increased allocations to the 774 local governments to enable them tackle the challenges of grassroots development.
Osun: no tenure extension for caretaker committee
The Chairman of Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Hashim Abioye, said the commission has a timetable for elections that would be held in February .
He said: “Notice of election goes to the very root of the election. Any defect in the notice will knock off the election as it will lack any valid foundational basis.
“The notice we have given was in line with the law. Both the Electoral Act, 2022, and OSSIEC Law, 2022 provides for at least, 360 days before the date of the election. This we have done since February, this year. We are therefore, in a good stead to go ahead with our activities.”
Abioye said the tenure of the caretaker committee appointed by Governor Ademola Adeleke will expire next month.
He expressed doubt if their tenure would be extended.
However, 16 opposition political parties have said they would boycott the polls.
Osun State Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC),in a communique by its Chairman, Victor Akande, said “Abioye is not legally fit to conduct free, fair and credible local government election “ because he is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Abioye, said the allegation by the 16 parties was unfounded.
Enugu: we are ready for October 5
Enugu State government has reiterated its readiness to conduct polls as scheduled by the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC).
The polls will hold on October 5.
The Commissioner for Information, Aka Eze Aka, said: “The state has declared that it will conduct elections in the local government areas and will democratically do so. The next factor is the mobilisation of the people.
“We’re ready at any point and cost. We’re ready to conduct free, fair and credible local government elections.”
But, the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure that elections into local governments are conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and not state electoral commissions(SIEC)
It’s chairman, Ugochukwu Agballah, said elections conducted by SIECs are not just a shame, but also an embarrassment to the international community.
Sokoto: Polls hold September
The Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Sambo Bello Danchadi, said council polls will hold in September.
He said: “Although, no exact date has been fixed, the SIEC has commenced preparations for the conduct of the elections.”
Benue: election is November 16
The Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) has fixed council polls for November 16.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Local and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dennis Akura, said,: “ Even before the judgment, Governor Alia on his first day in office granted autonomy to local governments in Benue State and had been channeling funds straight to their accounts.”
He added: “The Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy is a boost for Benue because the State Electoral Commission has fixed November 16 for polls.”
Kebbi: Opposition to participate on August 31
The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Kebbi said it would participate in the elections scheduled for Aug. 31.
Its spokesman, Alhaji Sani Dododo, who spoke in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, said: “The decision to fully participate during the polls was reached after a meeting of enlarged stakeholders of the party.
“The meeting resolved that the party should fully participate in the poll so as not to jeopardise the ambition of young party members willing to test their popularity at the said elections at both councillorship and chairmanship levels.
“We are going to submit the names of our candidates for both the councillorship and chairmanship positions by July 17.”
Imo: poll on September 21
Council polls will hold in Imo State on September 21, Imo State Government,(IMSG) has said.
Its Chairman, Charles Ejiogu, reassured the people of the government’s determination, saying that the date would not be compromised.
He said: “Pursuant to its establishment Law No 14 of 2000, as amended, the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) is charged with the task of conducting and supervising a free, transparent, and credible local government council elections in Imo State.
“To this end, ISIEC is set to conduct the much expected council elections into the 305 INEC Registration Areas/Wards and in all the 4,758 INEC polling units in the 27 local government area councils of Imo State, come Saturday 21 September, 2024.”
Ejiogu added: “We are very well prepared for the election that will usher in 27 democratically elected council chairmen, their deputies, and 305 councillors, in line with the objective of the polls.”
Rivers: APC gives conditions
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has announced October 5 as poll date, urging political parties to brace for it.
The Chairman of the commission, Justice Enebeli (rtd), said the date was mutually agreed upon by 17 political parties.
He said: “We will conduct a free, fair credible local government elections. Every vote will count, only winners with majority vote count will be declared”.
But the All Progressives Congress (APC) said it would only partake in the poll, if the processes are transparent.
Its Caretaker Committee Chairman, Tony Okocha, shunned the meeting organised by the commission.
He said: “I was not invited. My party was not invited. My party is too big not to be officially invited for an event like that.
“I am too big to attend an event that I was not officially invited. RSIEC refused to officially invite me as a chairman of a major opposition party in the state.”
Ondo: Councils will be funded
The people of Ondo State were warming up for council polls before they were postponed indefinitely last month by the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODSIEC).
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has set up Transition Committees for the 18 local governments and 33 Local Councils Development Areas.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Amidu Takuro, said the setting up of Transition Committees was part of the processes leading to the conduct of local government elections.
Oyo: Makinde summons emergency meeting
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde yesterday summoned an emergency stakeholders consultative meeting to discuss the Supreme Court judgment.
The governor, who also set up two committees- Technical and Legal – to review the judgment, expressed displeasure at what he referred to as “lacuna” in the court decision.
Addressing the stakeholders at the Executive Chamber of the Governors Office in Ibadan, the state capital, Makinde gave four weeks to the committees to present their reports.
At the meeting were ALGON members, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abiodun Aikomo, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ademola Ojo, and Chairman of House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, representatives of the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), and Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).
Makinde said the problem confronting the nation was not how to share money, but how to become more productive and create economic prosperity.