By Mark Lenu
Despite legal and political issues threatening the October 5 local government election in Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and RSIEC have not contemplated shifting the election date.
Findings had it that the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy has made the establishment of a national electoral umpire for the LG election imperative. State electoral umpires over the years have always conducted LG elections in favor of the sitting governors’ party, unlike a national electoral umpire who would do otherwise.
In Rivers State, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike is working tirelessly to ensure that Fubara does not have his grip on the third tier of government. Recall that a bill for the establishment of the National Independent Local Government Electoral Commission, NILGEC is currently before the floor of the senate.
Also Read: We will not vote Fubara’s candidate for PHALGA chairmanship – Okrikans insist
When the bill becomes law, the body will be saddled with the responsibility of conducting elections for the 774 local governments in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. The bill came after the Supreme Court barred the 36 governors of the federation from further retaining or utilizing funds that are meant for the 774 local government areas in the country.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has pledged that the Senate will amend the constitution to ensure the full implementation of the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, Akpabio thanked President Bola Tinubu for initiating steps towards granting local government autonomy through the intervention of the Supreme Court.
“The Senate, under my leadership, will amend the constitution to guarantee that the judgment is fully implemented, without any loopholes for manipulation,” Akpabio stated.
This means that if the bill becomes law, RSIEC and other states’ electoral umpires would no longer conduct LG elections which will weaken the influence of governors on LG elections.
In order for the Fubara-led state government to have influence over the local government administration, it is expected of RSIEC to conduct the forthcoming LG election and any attempt to shift the election date will be to the disadvantage of the governor.
