HoRs Member, Waive Wants State Houses Of Assembly To Amend The Law, Empower State Governors To Appoint LGA Chairmen, Councilors

…Says Local Government Elections Have Become A Mockery Of Our Democracy

By Daniel Dafe, Abraka
Member representing Ughelli North/South/Udu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt Rev Hon Francis Ejiroghene Waive, has said that it was high time the State Houses of Assembly consider empowering Governors of the 36 sates to singlehandedly select the chairmen and councillors of local government areas in their states.

Waive said this following the outcome of the council elections conducted in Delta State, saying that it was a charade.

A statement signed by the cleric and lawmaker on Saturday, said: “Today 6th March, 2021 being Local Government Election Day in Delta State, voting materials and Dsiec personnel were not seen by 4pm at my polling unit when the exercise ended. Yet results will be declared.”

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According to him, “local government elections have become a mockery of our democracy as the ruling party in each State ‘wins’ all LGAs.”

Continuing, he said “attempts to correct this by the National Assembly have always failed as the constitutionally required two third State Houses of Assembly never votes in support.”

“The way out in my view is for the State Houses of Assembly to amend the law governing Local Governments to empower their State Governors to appoint LG Chairmen and Councilors as this will be cheaper, less rancorous and legalize the present illegality and sham called Local Government elections,” he added.