…Ododo demands 40% slot for women
…Ogun says circulated information on LG poll is false
Following the local government autonomy granted by the Supreme Court, coupled with the move by the National Assembly to transfer the conduct of the local government elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), some States have hurriedly fixed between September and October 2024 for the conduct of the said polls.
BusinessDay reports that the concerned States, majorly of the All Progressives Congress, APC-controlled States, including Kogi, Plateau, Imo and Ogun States, have fixed their local government elections and will conduct the local council elections in the next two to three months.
For instance, Imo State will hold its local council election on the 21st of September; Plateau and Kogi States have fixed October 9th and 19th, 2024 respectively for their local government elections, while Ogun State has fixed 26th October as the day of its local council election.
Although there was a counter-claim to that effect, the information gathered in the State Government House shows that the State Council election cannot be extended more than November 2024.
Recall that Sunday Karimi, Chairman, Senate Services Committee, said recently that the National Assembly would soon transfer the responsibilities of conducting local government elections from the various States’ Electoral Bodies to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In order to outsmart the Federal Government’s move to transfer the responsibility to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), SOME APC-controlled States are making moves and political manoeuvres to conduct the local council elections before NASS could finish the legislative process.
In Kogi, Governor Ahmed Ododo, urged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to implement the resolution of the party to reserve 40% of councillorship positions to women as candidates of the party in the October 19 local government election in the State.
Governor Ododo made this known at an expanded Stakeholders’ meeting of the party held in Lokoja, adding that his Administration is committed to consolidating on the achievement of the former Governor Yahaya Bello on the attainment of the 35% affirmative action for women in elective positions in the State.
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The governor also applauded the decision of the APC in the State to nominate women as vice chairmanship candidates in the 21 local government areas of the State as well as the nomination of elected women councillors as council leaders in all the local government councils of the State.
The governor equally called on the leadership of the party to engage in wide consultations with stakeholders to produce candidates that will represent the party in the 239 wards and the 21 local government areas.
In Jos North, Plateau State, a group of youths under the auspices of Jos North Concern Youths (JNCY) has taken a bold step by purchasing a nomination form for Samuel Umaru, the Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) Chairman for Jos North Local Government.
The group, led by Isa Bila, the deputy chairman of Jos North Local Government, said they bought the form for Umaru because of his outstanding performance as TIC Chairman. “Umaru has done well and should be given the opportunity to continue in office,” Bila said.
In Imo, more and more party men are joining the race, Chibuike Onyeukwu has declared interest in the chairmanship election for Aboh Mbaise local government council in the forthcoming September 21, 2024, Local Government Council elections in the State.
Onyeukwu officially declared his interest in an enlarged leadership meeting at his Ibeku ward, Okwuato in Aboh Mbaise under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
His declaration was greeted with an unprecedented loud ovation from the stakeholders of the ward as well as others from Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area who came to grace the official declaration.
The chairmanship aspirant stated that his resolve to vie for the executive chairmanship position of Aboh Mbaise Local Government Council didn’t come out of personal interest, rather it is the will of the people of Aboh Mbaise for him to serve them, and therefore, stated that he would serve properly and deliver on the mandate.
He commended the people for re-electing Governor Hope Uzodinma, just as he solicited for continuous support for the “Shared Prosperity Mantra” of the present state government administration. And stated publicly his loyalty, dedication and commitment to Governor Hope Uzodinma and the All Progressives Congress.
