Anambra on edge as Senate moves to take control of LG elections

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By Madu Obi

Anambra State is on edge as the Nigerian Senate pushes to establish a federal agency that would be responsible for conducting local government elections in the country.

The Senate has already passed the first reading of the "Local Government Independent Electoral Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2024", sponsored by Senator Sani Musa, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance.

If the move by the Senate succeeds, State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIEC) will become irrelevant and might no longer be in existence.

It was gathered that following the Senate move, the Anambra State government might hurriedly conduct local government election in the state, apparently to beat the new law, which could see the federal agency take charge of conducting local government elections.

Recall that the Supreme Court recently granted financial autonomy to local councils and there were indications that states using caretaker committees to run the third - tier government would have allocations for their local governments withheld.

The last local government election was held in Anambra State during the administration of former Governor Peter Obi.