Governor ‘Seyi Makinde’s bid to prevent his would-be successor against having local government election has been thwarted....READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE ▶▶
According to the Supreme Court judgement on local government autonomy, the four-year tenure enjoyed by executives be extended to the offices of all local government chairmen across the country….READ FULL ARTICLE
Those in the know of event around Makinde told OYOINSIGHT.COM that he had deliberately planned to conduct three local government election within his 8-year, with the last one holding few days before his handing over in 2027. This move, it was further learnt, was to have some of his lackeys in power for the first three years of his successor.
”Should in case his candidate loses or he falls out with his preferred choice, it would be hard to remove them until the end of their tenure. That was his thinking before now. But we can’t dictate events. Things happen and change events.
This newspaper recalls the administration has conducted two local government elections— 2021 and 2024, with that one coming before the governor exits office.
The council chairmen as well as councilors were expected to use three-year in office but with the latest judgement on local government autonomy, their tenure has been extended to four years as contained in the certified true copy (CTC) of the judgement delivered by Justice Mohammed Garba and six others on May 11, 2024.
The next LG polls in the state would be conducted one year into the administration of Makinde’s successor.
“Under Section 135(3) of the Constitution, the tenure of four years for the president, provided for by Section 135(2) thereof, shall be extended for periods not exceeding a period of six months at any time by a resolution of the National Assembly if it is not practicable to hold elections.
“By the same token, by a law of a State House of Assembly, the tenure of local government councils can be legally extended for any reason, such as insecurity or war, if it becomes impracticable or impossible for elections into the local government councils to be conducted.
“The mandate given to an elected local government council is the mandate of the electorate of that local government area, and if the tenure is extended, it is the people’s mandate that is extended.
“If the tenure of a local government council is truncated, as it is the norm now, it is an illegal termination of the electorate’s mandate, and it is not to be encouraged but roundly condemned.
“By the doctrine of separation of powers, it is the constitutional duty or function of the Legislature to make laws, which include amendments and repeals, and the duty of the judiciary is to interpret the laws to achieve the intended purpose of the legislation,” he said….READ FULL ARTICLE
