The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) has announced September 28 as the date for local government elections in Anambra State.
News About Nigeria reports that this comes after a long wait since the last polls in 2014, which marked the end of Peter Obi’s governorship.
Successive governments have relied on caretaker committees to manage local governments, leading to a lack of progress and development in the state’s communities.
However, the situation has been addressed by a recent Supreme Court ruling, which mandates direct funding of local councils and democratic elections.
The Supreme Court’s July 11 ruling requires states to ensure democratic elections in local councils and direct funding from the federal government.
This means that caretaker committees will no longer receive funding, and states must comply with the ruling.
Genevieve Osakwe, ANSIEC chair, announced that the election timetable will be available from August 14.
“The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission wishes to inform all registered political parties and the general public that local government elections in the state will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2024,” the statement reads.
“Election Timetable/Schedule of Activities and other details can be collected from the Headquarters of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, Awka, from Wednesday, 14th August, 2024.”
Recall that on August 6, Charles Soludo, governor of Anambra, swore in the chairperson and members of the ANSIEC.
Soludo said the 1999 Constitution and the Anambra state electoral law mandated ANSIEC to conduct the LGA election “transparently and independently.”
The governor charged the ANSIEC members to serve with honour and integrity in an exemplary way that will highlight the Anambra ethos as “the light of the nation.”
