The Kwara State Government is gearing up for its inaugural local government elections since 2019. The previous council chairpersons, affiliated with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), were removed by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019, following the party’s assumption of leadership in the state.
This political upheaval prompted a legal challenge from the ousted PDP council members, who believed they had not completed their terms in office. In response, Transition Implementation Committees (TIC) were instated, each chaired by appointees in the 16 local councils of the state. However, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling declaring these committees unconstitutional, no further local government elections have been conducted.
Notably, the ruling party in the state established a new State Independent Electoral Commission last year to oversee the local government elections, yet the anticipated polling is still awaited.
Malam Muhammed Baba Okanla, Chairman of the Commission, has revealed that extensive preparations are underway for the elections, potentially scheduled for this year. He disclosed that the Commission has conducted training and retreat sessions and deliberated on the logistics necessary to ensure a fair, credible, and peaceful electoral process. Moreover, collaborative efforts with security agencies are being undertaken to safeguard the integrity of the elections.
Expressing concerns about the prolonged absence of local government elections, the main opposition party in the state, PDP, emphasized the unprecedented nature of the prolonged utilization of TIC to administer local governments continuously for over four years. The party’s spokesperson, Olusegun Olushola Adewara, highlighted the dissatisfaction among Kwarans and various civil society organizations, emphasizing the ongoing legal disputes and public outcry against the Governor’s actions.
As the state anticipates the long-awaited local government elections, mounting concerns and expectations underscore the significance of this imminent political event. The resumption of local elections holds widespread implications for the restoration of democratic governance at the grassroots level, thereby amplifying the stakes and interests surrounding this electoral milestone in Kwara State.
