From Abubakar Abdullah, in Lafia
Chairmen and Councilorship elections are to be conducted across the 13 local government areas of Nasarawa state on 2nd November this year.
State Independent Electoral Commission made this known at a press briefing in lafia
The tenure of local government chairmen and councilors would expire on 7th October and the last local government chairmen and councilorship elections conducted in nasarawa state was on 6th October 2021.
In August last year, the state independent electoral commission released a plan to conduct the election in August this year but had to suspend it due to court case by some aspirants challenging the process.
” You may recall that on the 31st August 2023, the Commission released a Notice of Election and a Time-Line of Activities leading the conduct of the 2024 Local Government Councils Elections on 31st August 2024.”
” However, the Commission was served with an Originating Summons by the Federal High Court, Lafia in a matter filed by one Paul A. John, Esq. and 12 others against the Nasarawa State House of Assembly and the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission, challenging section 8(e) of the Nasarawa State Local Government Elections Law, 2018 and Sections 3j, 3k and 9 of the Local Government Councils Elections Guidelines, 2024.”
The Commission Chairman said ” as law abiding institution that has continued to promote adherence to laws, Rules and Regulations governing the conduct of local government of councils elections in Nasarawa State.”
Announcing second November as the new date for the election State Chairman of Independent Electoral Commission Ayuba Wandai said the commission won the Court case and the expiration of the local government chairmen tenure in no distant future poise the need for the election in the 13 local government areas of the state.
He maintained that ” having had our day in court by emerging victorious, the court dismissed the suit and upheld all our contentions. The plaintiffs, being dissatisfied with the judgement, filed a Notice of Appeal at the Appeal Court of Makurdi but have suddenly filed a Notice of Withdrawal/Discontinuance of Notice of Appeal on Thursday 26th September, 2024 thus clearing the way for the conduct of the 2024 Local Government Councils Elections.”
Wandai said has given notice that the Nasarawa State Local Government Councils Elections for both Chairmen and Councilor shall hold on Saturday 2nd November 2024 across the 13 LGAs
While expressing the commission commitment towards transparent election, the NASIEC Chairman appealed for residents support for hitch free exercise.
In regards to the plan local government election, residents are looking forward for an election that if not acceptable by all, a significant percentage of the electorates could attest to it transparency.
