Following the Supreme Court ruling on July 11, 2024, which reaffirmed the autonomy of Local Government Areas (LGAs) and prohibited governors from dissolving democratically elected council officials, many Nigerian states have been mandated to conduct elections to restore democratic governance at the local level.
The ruling also banned the widespread practice of state governors appointing caretaker committees to manage local councils and prohibited federal allocations to councils administered by caretaker committees.
While at least eleven Nigerian states have conducted Local Government elections to beat the federal government’s October deadline, some have scheduled theirs for a later date.
Here are the states that have held elections so far:
Ebonyi State
The Ebonyi State local government election was conducted on July 20, 2024. The Ebonyi Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) declared that the APC swept all the available positions in the local council polls.
Jossey Eze, the commission’s chairperson, who announced this in Abakaliki, said the party won all the 13 chairmanship seats and 171 Ward councillors.
Bauchi State
The Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission declared the ruling PDP the winner of 20 chairmanship seats in the local government elections conducted on August 17, 2024.
Following the conclusion of the exercise, Ahmed Makama, the Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission, announced the results.
Kebbi State
Kebbi Local government election was conducted on August 30, 2024. The Kebbi State Independent Electoral Commission declared the APC the winner of all positions in the local council polls.
The state electoral commission’s Chairman, Aliyu Muhammad-Mera, announced this in Birnin Kebbi, where he said the party won all the 21 Chairmanship seats and 225 ward councillors.
Muhammad-Mera said that 17 political parties participated in the polls, including the APC, NNPP, LP, AAC, Boot Party, AP, and SDP.
Kwara State
After seven years without elected local government officials, the Kwara state conducted the Local Government election on September 21, 2024.
The Chairman of KWSIEC, Baba Okanla, announced the results and confirmed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won all sixteen Local Government Area chairmanship positions and secured all 193 councilorship seats.
Imo State
Imo state conducted the Local Government election on September 21, 2024. The ruling APC also won all 16 local government chairmanship positions and all 193 councillorship seats.
The Chairman of ISIEC, Charles Ejiogu, said that the election followed the guidelines and procedures.
Enugu State
The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) declared the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Local Government Council elections conducted on 21st September across the state.
Prof Christian Ngwu, chairman of the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission( ENSIEC), declared the results, praising the commission’s conduct of a free and fair election.
Sokoto State
The ruling APC won the Sokoto State local government election held on September 21, 2024.
The chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission, Alhaji Aliyu Sulaiman, announced the results at the commission’s office in Sokoto. He said the elections featured a competitive race among fifteen political parties across the state. According to him, each party put forward candidates for both the chairmanship and councillorship positions.
While the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured victory in all contested seats, Sulaiman emphasised that the elections were free, fair, and peaceful.
Akwa Ibom State
The PDP won 30 of the 31 local government chairmanship seats, leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) with just one seat in the election conducted on Saturday, October 5, 2024.
The result was released by The Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC)
However, the result indicated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won one local government area.
Anambra State
Anambra Local government election was conducted on September 28, 2024. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) emerged victorious, winning all chairmanship and councillorship positions across the 21 local government areas and 326 wards.
Genevieve Osakwe, Chairman of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, announced a clean sweep for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Osakwe confirmed that APGA candidates secured all 21 chairmanship and councillorship positions across the state, with results declared at the ward level.
Benue State
The ruling APC won all the chairmanship and councillorship positions in the Benue local government elections.
The Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), which conducted the elections, while announcing the results through its Chairman, Mr. Richard Tombowua, declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured a complete victory in the polls in a contest among five of the eight political parties that had initially shown interest.
Rivers State
Due to the political tension in Rivers State, this election became a topical issue when it was conducted on October 5, especially the fuss between the incumbent Governor Sim Fubara and his predecessor and Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
Action Peoples Party (APP) won 22 of 23 chairmanship positions in the State local government polls.
Justice Adolphus Enebeli, the Chief Election Officer of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), announced this in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
Upcoming LG elections:
Kogi State
The Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission has fixed October 19, 2024, for the local government elections across the state.
Kaduna state
Through its Independent Electoral Commission, Kaduna State will conduct its local council elections in the 23 Local Government Areas on October 19, 2024.
Katsina state
The Katsina State Independent Electoral Commission has fixed February 15, 2025, as the date for the state’s local government elections.
Osun state
The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) has set February 22, 2025, as the date for the people of the state to elect new officials for all the local government areas (LGAs) across the state.
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