The much talked about local government election in Imo State, will be put on hold as the National Assembly, the Senate rolls out plans to amend the Constitution, which seek to strip State Electoral Commissions, the power to hold local government elections.
This has been identified as a major reason why LGA polls may not hold in the State in the first quarter of next year.
This also entails the continued extension of the tenure of the Interim Management Committees, IMC, constituted by the State government to run the affairs of the governments.
The idea of appointing Sole Administrators for the LGAs in the State which was muted last week has been dusted.
In Nigeria, State Governors are known to maintain strongholds on the local governments, an anomaly the proposed amendment on the local government system by the National Assembly seeks to correct.
The Federal Government has continued to restate it’s commitment to ensure full Autonomy for the local governments. Recently, it guaranteed full financial autonomy for the LGAs wherein they receive their full allocation.
In Imo State, Governor Emeka Ihedioha had assured of autonomy of the local governments announcing his administration readiness to hold the local government polls.
ISIEC had announced December 2019 as date for holding the polls, though it has not been forthcoming since after announcing the date.
The ultimate benefactors of the proposed amendment by the National Assembly seems to be the IMC Chairmen who have continuously lobbied to be retained as Chairmen of the Councils in elected capacity.
Some of them have intensified plans to metamorphose into elected Executive Chairmen, settimg up political structures in their localities to aid their aspirations.