Anambra State stakeholders have urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo to promptly initiate local government council elections within the state. This call was emphasized during a gathering facilitated by the International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC) in partnership with the African Centre for Leadership and Development.
Comprising members from various spheres including civil society organizations, political parties, religious and traditional institutions, the media, and more, these stakeholders highlighted the imminent 10-year mark since the last local government election in the state.
Delivering a lecture on the topic, ‘Strengthening accountability in governance and electoral process’, a lecturer in the Mass Communication Department of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Dr Henry Duru stated that Nigerian governors have successfully cornered the local government system.
He said: “I don’t know why Mr Peter Obi, Bola Tinubu or Atiku Abubakar would run for Presidency, and would never promise that they would conduct governorship election in states when they win, but people aspiring for governorship would promise that they would conduct council polls.
“Conducting elections is a statutory thing, and it is enshrined in the Constitution, and not something that any aspirant to a position should be promising anyone.
“The transition committee used by the governor to run the council areas is supposed to be a makeshift thing, pending election, but you now find out that they are almost permanent, and their tenures renewed every three months. That is not right.”
Earlier, Chris Azor, the Coordinator of International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC) and Mr Itia Otabor, Director African Centre for Leadership and Development, said the forum was convened to brainstorm on ways to push the government of Anambra State to hold council polls.
Otabor said: “We are not appealing to the governor, we are only reminding him of what he should have done, which he hasn’t done. He is obligated to conduct local government election because it is statutory.”
The stakeholders, in a communique, unanimously agreed on the need for local government polls in Anambra State.
