Following the Supreme Court ruling on July 11, 2024, which reaffirmed the autonomy of Local Government Areas (LGAs) and prohibited state governors from dissolving democratically elected council officials and appointment of caretaker committees, most State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) have been busy conducting elections into public offices at the local government level.
The civil exercise has been holding in different states of the federation since August. On Saturday, October 5, it was the turn of Benue, Rivers, Plateau and Akwa Ibom states.
While the elections have been held, results announced and winners sworn in the four states by the respective governors, Minority Leader of the Senate, Abba Moro, has described the elections held in some states, particularly that of Benue as a ‘sham’.
Recall that the Chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, Richard Tombowua, on Sunday, declared the All Progressives Congress chairmanship and councillorship candidates as winners of the October 5 local government election in the state.
Announcing the results of the election at the headquarters of the commission, Tombowua said that the APC won all 23 chairmanships and 276 councillorship positions contested in the state.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, on his part, described the outcome of the local government election as a true reflection of the people’s will.
“The successful conduct of these elections, free from violence, is a testament to our collective resolve to uphold the values of peace and unity that are fundamental to our progress as a state. I am proud to see our citizens trooping out to make their voices heard, demonstrating that we can engage in the democratic process with respect and dignity,” the governor said in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo on Sunday shortly after results of poll was announced.
However, Moro, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain representing Benue South Senatorial District, on Thursday moved a motion titled: ‘The sham local government elections on 5th October 2024: Abuse of the constitution and need for Senate intervention’.
Moro, in his lead debate, said the local government council elections in Benue State and in some parts of Nigeria were marred by rampant manipulation, thwarting the goal of establishing truly representative local governments in Nigeria.
According to him, in most places, elections took place in the private homes of the chieftains of the ruling party, making the entire process a mere coronation of candidates of the ruling party and not a proper election contemplated under the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“The 5th of October, 2024 local government council elections were scheduled to hold in Benue State and in other parts of Nigeria, and while the electorate excitedly trooped out in their numbers to exercise their franchise to elect leaders who will represent their will at the local government 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 returns,” he said.
However, some political analysts have contrary opinions to Moro’s. According to them, the constitution beholds on the National and State Independent Electoral Commissions powers to conduct elections into elective offices in Nigeria at both the federal, state and local government levels with agents of participating political parties allowed in attendance to monitor the process.
In a similar submission, a political commentator, Olugbenga Ashiru, advised politicians not to overheat the polity with their comments on the LG polls.
“Politicians are fond of heaping praises on INEC, the judiciary and even the federal government once election results favour them and their parties. However, the moment it goes south, rather than follow through with established system of challenging election results, they begin to cry foul and almost hold the system hostage. It is normal that in LG elections, the ruling party in the respective states will win majority if not all the contestable seats. The only exception to this is that of Rivers State where a relatively unknown political party made a surprise win and we know the drama surrounding that,” he said.
