The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) has partnered International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre, in collaboration with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, to convene a stakeholders’ meeting on Thursday in Awka, on the conduct of local government election in Anambra State. The roundtable ended in a unanimous call for the conduct of local government election in Anambra State, by participants. The stakeholders meeting which has in attendance political party representatives, the media community, traditional rulers, town union leadership, Church representatives, government officials in all three arms of the government of Anambra State, and other concerned stakeholders, agreed that the conduct of local government election in Anambra State is long overdue.
The Stakeholders meeting was supported by UK International Development, as part of efforts to deepen democracy and make government accessible at the grassroots.
Speaking to the media at the stakeholders’ engagement, Itie Otabor, the Director of Strategy at Centre LSD said that the conversation is part of the necessary discussion required to make a case to the government to conduct local government election in Anambra State. “Constitutionally, it is the State government that has the responsibility to conduct local government election,” Itie said. Similarly, for Prince Chris Azor, conducting local government elections is a matter of the position of the law. “It is the rule of law,” he said. Emphasizing his earlier position, Mr. Otabor noted that “the constitution stated that there must be elected local government officials. We must adhere to the tenets of the constitution.” Speaking on the essence of the gathering, Otabor said that civil society hopes that the citizens’ curiosity is awakened so that they will provide the necessary support to the government to conduct the local government election. “We are hoping that this exercise will galvanize the citizens to rally around the governor to ensure the conduct of local government election in Anambra State”. On his part, Prince Chris Azor emphasized the role of the media, while also calling on Governor Soludo to keep his promise. “The media has a role to play. But as citizens, stakeholders, we are saying that the governor should keep his promise”.
In exactly one month, it would be precisely ten years since the last time a local government election was held in Anambra State. In fact, since 1999, Anambra has only elected local government officials twice; in 1999 and 2014. So, in 24 years, the local government election in Anambra has only been held twice. Therefore, Anambra’s case in this instance, is one of the very worst throughout Nigeria. By far, it is the absolute worst in the Southeast. The last local government election in Anambra State was held barely two months before the end of the second tenure of Governor Peter Obi whose successor, Governor Willie Obiano, could not conduct local government election in 8 years.
Aware of the precarious situation with the Anambra local government system, the governor of Anambra State Prof. Chukwuma Soludo promised to conduct a local government election in his first six months in office. Out of all the candidates who contested the Anambra 2021 governorship election, Prof. Soludo was the only one who made a definite promise with a timeline, to conduct a local government election.
While calling on the governor to conduct local government election in Anambra State, many of the participants at the roundtable also called on civil society organizations to sustain the conversation, which will help keep serious issues of public interest on the front burner, while also enlightening the people to hold their government accountable.
Ebuka graduated with a second-class upper-division degree in Political Science from the University of Calabar in Nigeria. He furthered his education by obtaining a Master's Degree in Political Science with a specialization in Government and Development Studies from Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Nigeria. His academic background and professional experience have equipped him with a deep understanding of political dynamics and governance issues.
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