Anambra: Gov. Soludo Set to Conduct LG Election

Due to enormous pressures from civil society organisations and political opponents, Anambra State governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, is on track to hold local government elections after a long delay. 

Soludo has subsequently sent an executive bill to the state legislature for law to reestablish the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC, to oversee the elections. This comes after years of the commission being inactive.

The bill has undergone a second reading and was presented before the house by the majority leader, Ikenna Ofodeme, and it would enable and empower the executive arm of government to conduct local government elections in the state when passed into law.

On his part, Ofodeme said the bill, which has about 110 clauses, will no doubt help the state address the interests of both the government and those that are not in government.

It was gathered that Governor Soludo, during his swearing-in address on March 17, 2022, pledged to make the conduct of the local government election a priority of his government, but the election could not hold after two years of the administration.

Leading the debate on the floor of the house on Tuesday, the majority leader, Ofodeme, affirmed that Soludo has shown that he is eager to conduct a free and fair local government election in the state.

Several members of the House of Assembly praised the bill's potential to serve as a model for future elections in the state and potentially across Nigeria, considering its alignment with the 2022 Electoral Act.

The Speaker of the House, Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, emphasised the legislature's commitment to supporting the governor's efforts and urged a thorough review before finalising the bill.