AS RIVERS STATE PREPARES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS, PDP ADVOCATES INEC SHOULD CONDUCT LG POLL
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is urging the National Assembly to speed up the process of empowering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct all elections in Nigeria.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the party, Wali Jibrin made the call while speaking with newsmen in his country home in Nasarawa State, after the Nasarawa central constituency’s by-election, in which the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the poll.
Jibrin observed that most of the elections conducted at the local government level by States’ Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) in most parts of the country lack credibility.
“If the National Assembly formulates a law that empowers INEC to conduct all elections in the country, it will further strengthen democracy.
“This will allow the people at the grassroots elect credible leaders of their choice and ensure speedy development in the country”.
The BoT chairman of PDP, however lauded INEC for the peaceful conduct of the bye-election and called on relevant stakeholders and politicians to support INEC for improved electoral process.
Meanwhile, chairmanship and councillorship elections in the twenty three Local Government Areas of Rivers State are expected to be conducted early next year.
Governor Nyesom Wike made the announcement last week while swearing in a substantive chairman for Asari-Toru Local Government Council.
Checks by Brave Views reveal that Local Government elections are always won by parties in government at the state levels and in most cases record 100% victory.
The development underscores allegations that State Governors influence Local Government elections to their overall favour.
Locals Government administration in Nigeria are often seen as an extensions of State Governors offices, because only their stooges are installed as chairmen.
In Rivers State, it is not yet clear if INEC or RSIEC will conduct the forthcoming Local Government election.