The Kebbi State Independent Electoral Commission (KBSIEC) has been given 35 days by the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Kebbi State to hold elections in all 21 of the state’s local government councils.
Commencing on May 2, 2024, the ultimatum concludes on June 5, 2024.
Ibrahim Muhammed, chairman of the IPAC, made this demand while visiting the commission’s headquarters in the Birnin Kebbi metropolis for the purpose of lobbying.
You may remember that during an advocacy visit to the state House of Assembly, the council had previously voiced its disagreement to the state government’s appointment of sole administrators in 21 local government regions.
Muhammadu Usman Zuru, speaker of the Kebbi state assembly, responded by justifying the state government’s decision by pointing to a provision in the constitution that permits governors to choose individual administrators in cases where the state electoral body lacks the necessary preparations for the elections.
But Muhammed restated IPAC’s opposition to the selection of single administrators, saying that when the current council members’ two-year terms end, the government should hold elections to fill the empty seats.
The action, in his view, was harmful to democracy and violated the rights of the opposition parties to engage in council-level governance.
Furthermore, Muhammed argued that the statute permitting governors to choose local government single managers was immoral and anti-people, and he attacked the government for not providing the necessary funding to the commission to hold local council polls.
Ahmed Amadu Nasani, a commissioner representing KBSIEC Chairman Aliyu Mohammed Mera, promised that the commission will do its best to meet the deadline.