Akpabio urges reforms as Senate flays flawed local council polls
11 October 2024 |
4:04 am
The Senate has condemned the local council elections conducted in several states, labelling them a serious breach of democratic principles. Following a motion by Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South) on the problematic elections held on October 5
Rep presents bill to allow INEC conduct LG polls
The Senate has condemned the local council elections conducted in several states, labelling them a serious breach of democratic principles. Following a motion by Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South) on the problematic elections held on October 5, 2024, particularly in Benue State, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, called for reforms in the local council system.
Meanwhile, Akin Alabi, representing Egbeda/Ona Ara Federal Constituency, Oyo State, has presented a bill before the House of Representatives to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct local council elections.
Moro criticised the elections for being tainted with manipulation, noting that many were effectively held in the homes of ruling party leaders, turning the process into a mere selection rather than a legitimate election. He pointed out that in many polling stations, essential materials and officials were absent, disenfranchising voters.
Emphasising the importance of elections as a cornerstone of democracy, allowing citizens to choose their representatives, the Senate called on the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) to conduct proper elections in areas where they did not occur.
It also urged the Presidency to withhold funding from local councils that failed to adhere to democratic processes, treating such actions as illegitimate appointments.
The motion was co-sponsored by Titus Tartenger (APC, Benue North-West), Emmanuel Udende (APC, Benue North-East), and Tony Nwoye (LP, Anambra North).
Seconding the motion, Udende said although his party, APC, was culpable in the Benue episode, he could not support evil, adding, “This is not a party matter; there was no election in Benue.”
Zam, who strongly identified with the motion, said all the three senators from Benue across party lines sponsored the motion as representatives of the people, who cried to them to condemn the “heinous political crime”.
Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, described the elections as a “national calamity”. Akpabio said, “The world needs to know it is not related to Benue alone.
“We at the National Assembly must take a step to ensure that the judgment by the Supreme Court comes alive. We should change the situation for the better. We must have a national dialogue with the President, governors, past governors, etc. The public is waiting to see what the 10th National Assembly will do to make local council elections free and fair.”
Moro, in his motion, had noted “In a federation, elections are the backbone of democracy, allowing citizens to choose their representatives at various levels of government, and the right to franchise of citizens in Nigeria is sacrosanct and constitutionally guaranteed under Sections 77 to 91 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), specifically focusing on the citizens’ rights to vote and be voted for in an electoral process.
“On October 5, 2024, local council elections were scheduled to be held in Benue and other parts of Nigeria, and while the electorate excitedly trooped out to elect leaders who would represent their will at the local councils, they waited for hours in vain, as neither election materials nor electoral officers showed up in many of the polling stations, and where a semblance of elections took place, winners were denied certificates of return.”
Emphasising the urgent need to reposition the local council system in the country, Akpabio asserted that the issues surrounding local council elections extended beyond party lines.
He stated, “The world needs to know that this is not limited to only the PDP states. We must take steps to ensure that local councils function effectively as a third tier of government.”
The Senate president commended the Supreme Court for ruling that local council funds should go directly to the local councils, urging the National Assembly to implement the decision fully.
Reflecting on his time as governor of Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015, Akpabio noted that he successfully conducted credible local council elections twice.
He recounted an incident when stakeholders raised concerns about a local council issue, emphasising the importance of respecting electoral outcomes.
ACCORDING to Alabi, this move is aimed at improving electoral transparency. The bill, tagged ‘Constitutional Amendment for Local Government Elections’, seeks to transfer the responsibility of conducting local council elections from the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) to INEC.
Alabi noted that the various bills he presented to the Green Chamber were to address a broad spectrum of critical issues, to show his dedication to improving governance, justice, healthcare and social welfare.
The other bills include ‘Constitution Amendment to Eliminate Discrimination Against Women in Nationality Law’, which seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow Nigerian women to pass their nationality to their foreign husbands, eliminating gender discrimination and promoting equality; and Federal Medical Centre Ona-Ara (Establishment) Bill, which aims to provide access to quality healthcare and medical services to the residents of Ona-Ara and environs.
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