The Labour Party candidate for the most recent governorship election in Enugu State, Chijioke Edeoga, passionately advocates for a significant shift in the political landscape.
In a bold move, he implored the Attorney General of the Federation to take action that will empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct local government elections across Nigeria.
Edeoga emphasized that the recent landmark Supreme Court judgment affirming autonomy for local councils can only deliver its full potential if accompanied by an amendment to the 1999 Constitution.
He specifically highlighted the need to delete Section 197 1(b), which established state INEC, and proposes an amendment to Section 153 (1) to grant INEC the authority to conduct local government (LG) elections.
While acknowledging the positive reception of the Supreme Court’s judgment, Edeoga underscored the prevailing sentiment that true fairness and freedom in council elections can only be achieved through a corresponding constitutional amendment.
He suggested that amidst the ongoing process of constitutional amendments, special attention should be given to isolating the section pertaining to local government autonomy and expediting its amendment to align with the “national consensus” generated by the Supreme Court judgment.
“To this end,” Edeoga asserts, “an Executive Bill should be initiated by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation to excise Section 197 1(b) of the Constitution, thereby abolishing state Independent Electoral Commissions. Additionally, Section 153 (1), which established INEC, should be amended to confer full powers upon the national elections management body to conduct elections for local government councils.”
Edeoga emphasized the urgency of addressing this matter, as many local government areas in 22 out of the 36 states currently operate under undemocratic caretaker arrangements.
He believes that fast-tracking the amendment and obtaining Presidential assent would enable the synchronization of local council elections within a unified calendar.
He highlights the pressing need to curtail the undue influence wielded by state governors through state electoral commissions over local government council chairmen. Edeoga fears that the intended transparency and accountability in the use of local government resources by duly elected officers could still be manipulated by governors who retain the power to determine the chairmen of these councils.
Edeoga passionately argues that the third tier of government, local government administration, holds the key to national development. Restoring autonomy to elected officers of local governments will ignite rural development in unprecedented ways since the inception of Nigeria’s current democratic era in 1999.
“Local government administration plays a pivotal role in national political and infrastructure development, akin to the significance of micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) in national economic development. Rp
Just as MSMEs are major employers of labor, council administration profoundly impacts the lives of citizens, surpassing both state and federal government in its reach and influence.”
