Local government administrators in the 21 local government areas of Kogi State are in panic as the list of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) which was submitted to the State House of Assembly was returned to the governor for correction.
SIEC members who were supposed to be screened by the State House of Assembly preparatory for the Local government election was returned to the governor by the Speaker, Hon. Mathew Kolawole for it to be corrected in line with the law establishing the Commission.
Though the date of Local government election has not been fixed officially by the Commission, all the 21 local government administrators have indicated interest to contest chairmanship on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), but have been in panic mood over what would become of the list, CAPITAL POST, reports.
The administrators are apprehensive over the fate of members al ready submitted to the House by the executive, bearing in mind that any last minute change could affect their political interest, particularly that some of their political allies made the list.
The delay continue to generate a climate of uncertainties as the administrators are daily confronted with rumours of other party loyalists having interest to contest against them.
There was public outcry from the APC and opposition Peoples Democratic Party in the state over the composition of SIEC membership. The State PDP posited that all the nominees are card carrying members of the ruling APC, a situation, the party explained contradicts the provision of laws establishing the State Independent Electoral Commission.
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Chief James Adejoh explained that the party was waiting to sue SIEC committee once, they have been confirmed by the State House of Assembly.
He said:
“SIEC is an umpire and the members are not expected to be partisan which is what the law establishing it said.
“All the nominees are those we all know as card carrying members of the All Progressives Congress and if they are confirmed, how would there be fairly play in conduct of local government elections?
“I think, PDP and other political parties will approach the court to nullify any election conducted under this partisan Committee of SIEC and we are all waiting.
“Section 197(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended is sacrosanct in nominating Committee members of SIEC, but what the governor has done was in grave contradiction of the provision”, he maintained.
CAPITAL POST recalls that governor Yahaya Bello in a statement nominated some persons which was forwarded to the State House of Assembly for confirmation since 12th February, 2020.
The names are, Hon. Lawal Shiru (Chairman), Ozovehe John Enesi (Secretary), Adaji Ainoko, Musa Adama, Hon. Labaran Yahaya Oyigebe and Abdulkarim Jamiu.
The date of local government election has not been fixed yet.
