By MBACHU GODWIN, Abuja
Imo State Social Democratic Party, SDP, gubernatorial candidate in the November 11, 2023 election , Hon. Obina Bright Ekwebelm has lauded the Supreme Court Judgement granting Financial autonomy to the Local government, describing it as a welcome development.
Ekwebelm noted that the supreme court verdict on local government autonomy could only be meaningful if the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC be allowed to conduct council elections.
Speaking to journalists, the SDP Guber Candidate maintained that INEC conducting council elections will remove the council chairmen from the grip of the governors, who according to him have over the years stiphyned the finances of the Councils.
He argued that allowing INEC to conduct council elections across the 774 local governments instead of the state electoral Commission will strengthen the country’s democratic process .
Ekwebelm stated ” The judgement is a welcome development, very appreciative of the supreme court judges, in fact the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should come and conduct election in every local government in Nigeria , that will strengthen Democratic process and by the virtue of that more dividends will be delivered to the grass root, if not where the governors select council chairmen and conduct elections through state electoral committee, the party in power wins the whole council elections.
” If the Councils get their allocation directly from the federation account, more eyes will be on them, the Economic Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, and Independent Corruption practices and other related Commission and will beam their light on them and people will know how their money is being spent, there will be accountability and transparency and there will be development at the grass root level”
Speaking further on the fourth coming local government election in the state , the SDP chieftain disclosed that his party will participate in the election, adding that the supreme court verdict on local government financial autonomy has made it possible for the party to participate than boycott the election as earlier agreed by the opposition parties in the state.
