With the imminent threat to cut off funds to all Local Councils operating with undemocratically elected officials, many States have been caught in a frenzy of plans to conduct polls to fill in positions in the Third Tier of Government.
The Source reports that ever since the Thursday, July 20, 2024, landmark Supreme Court verdict affirming the financial independence of the Local Councils, as well as an order for the withholding of the Federal Allocation of Councils operating with Caretaker officials, many States have either conducted, or about to hold the otherwise disdained exercise.
The Zamfara State Government on Monday, July 22, 2024 joined the league of States set to hold elections to fill in the Executive Councils of its Local Governments.
While addressing the media at the Government House ,Gusau, Farouk Ahmed Shettima, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dauda Lawal on Communication and Mobilization, informed that Council Election will hold in August 2024.
He said all arrangements are at advanced stage for the State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct the polls so that the Local Councils will be able to access their Federal allocations.
Malam Shettima also assured that the Peoples Democratic Party-led adminstration in Zamfara will conduct a free and fair Local Government election.
“Zamfara State Government is in agreement with the Supreme Court position on Local Government autonomy as it will attract more development to the grassroots.”
As part of its preparation for the exercise, Shettima noted that plans are, also, a-foot to fill all the vacant positions within the State Chapter of the PDP.
The vacant slots available include three delegates each for the 147 political wards in the State, one National officer, and others within the State working committee which are currently being manned by interim officials.
This, according to him,is sequel to the directives from the Party’s National Working Committee, NWC, to explore the selection option ahead of mini Congress.
“Everything is in place. We are waiting for the arrival of the Chief Executive of the State, Governor Dauda Lawal, to carry out the task before notifying the National Leadership, and to seek permission concerning the Local Government election preparations.
But The Source have gathered that opposition parties, particularly APC, may shun the Local Polls due to what one party stalwart described as lack of sincerity of purpose by the PDP led adminstration.
“How can you just wake up and announce that election is going to hold next month? How many days from now?
“Our sincere thinking is that the PDP-led administration in the State does not want to hold any election .They just want something that will ensure that they continue to have access to the Local Governments Funds.
Joining them in the planned charade amounts to wasting of time and resources,” an opposition chieftain noted.
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