The Senate has condemned the local government elections conducted in several states, labeling them a serious breach of democratic principles.
This decision came after Senator Abba Moro’s motion addressing the problematic elections held on October 5, 2024, particularly in Benue State.
Senator Moro criticized the elections for being rife with manipulation, noting that many were effectively held in the homes of ruling party leaders, turning the process into a mere selection rather than a legitimate electoral event. He pointed out that in numerous polling stations, essential materials and officials were absent, leaving voters unable to participate.
The Senate emphasized the importance of elections as a cornerstone of democracy, allowing citizens to choose their representatives. It called on the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct proper elections in areas where they did not occur. Additionally, the Senate urged the Federal Government to withhold funding from local councils that failed to adhere to democratic processes, treating such actions as illegitimate appointments rather than genuine elections.
The motion was sponsored by Senator Abba Moro (Benue South) snd co-sponsored by Senators Titus Zam Tartenger (Benue North West), Emmanuel Udende Memga (Benue North East) and Tony Nwoye (Anambra North).
Seconding the motion, Senator Emmanuel Udende said although he is a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC), he can’t support what is wrong, adding that “this is not a party matter; there was no election in Benue state”
Senator Titus Zam who strongly supported and identified with the motion said all the three senators from Benue across party lines sponsored the motion as representative is of the people who have cried to us to condemn this charade and heinous political crime committed.
When Akpabio asked of the Deputy Senate President his impression of LG elections across the country, Barau Jibrin said “it is a national calamity”, adding that everybody was surprised that as APC, you were able to your LG.
“We all know it’s always 100%, but you managed to win in PDP state. We should allow an independent body to conduct LG election or allow NIEC to handle responsibilities. We cannot continue like this”.
Akpabio in his eema6 said “the world needs to know that it is not related to Benue alone, but across party line.
“We at the National Assembly must take a step to ensure that the judgement by the Supreme Court comes alive. We should change the situation for the better.
“We must have a national dialogue with president, governors, past governors, etc. The public is waiting to see what the 10th will do to make local government election free and fair.
Earlier, Senator Moro in his motion noted that “in a federation, elections are the backbone of democracy, allowing citizens to choose their representatives at various levels of government, and the right to franchise of citizens in Nigeria is sacrosanct and constitutionally guaranteed under Sections 77 to 91 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), specifically focusing on the citizens’ rights to vote and be voted for in an electoral process.
He also noted that “on the 5th of October, 2024, Local Government Council Elections were scheduled to hold in Benue State and in other parts of Nigeria, and while the electorates excitedly trooped out in their numbers to exercise their franchise to elect leaders who will represent their will at the local government councils, they waited for hours in vain as neither election materials nor electoral officers showed up in many of the polling stations and where a semblance of elections took place, winners were denied certificates of returns.
“Further notes that in most places, elections took place in the private homes of the chieftains of the ruling party making the entire process a mere coronation of candidates of the ruling party and not a proper election contemplated under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)”.
Therefore, the Senate resolved to “Condemn the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission’s blatant disregard for democrat principles in the sham local government elections of Saturday, 5th October, 2024.
“Urge the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct elections in those place where elections did not hold and allow the people to choose the representatives of their choice.
“Further urge the Federal Government to deny allocations to Local Governments Council’s where selections were done, akin to appointment of caretaker committees”.