By David Okpashi
Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission, NASIEC, Wednesday, slated November 2, 2024 for the conduct of local council elections in the state. Chairman of the Commission, Barrister Ayuba Wandai Usman announced the date for the conduct of the election during a meeting with officials of the Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, in Lafia.
Barrister Wandai explained that the decision by the commission to fix the council polls in November 2 this year was as a result of the withdrawal of litigations filed in the Makurdi Division of the Appeal Court by one Paul A. John and 12 others.
He disclosed that the Commission having studied and analyzed the judgement of the Federal High Court Lafia decided to issue a notice of election.
“You will recall that the Commission conducted the last local government council elections on Wednesday October 6, 2021 and the present local government councils officials were sworn-in and inaugurated on Friday October 8, 2021 for a tenure of three (3) years which will end on Monday, October, 2024.
“You will also recall that in compliance with Extant Laws, the Commission had earlier issued a Notice of Election for the conduct of the 2024 Local Government Councils Elections on 31st August, 2023 and also fixed Saturday 31st August, 2024 for the conduct of the elections.
However, the Commission was served with an Originating Summons by the Federal High Court, Lafia in a matter filed by one Paul A. John, Esq. and 12 Others against the Nasarawa State House of Assembly and the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission, challenging Section 8(e) of the Nasarawa State Local Government Election Law, 2018 and Sections 3j, 3k and 9 of the Local Government Councils Elections Guidelines, 2024.
“As a law-abiding institution that has continued to promote adherence to Laws, Rules and Regulations governing the conduct of Local Government Councils Elections in Nasarawa State, the Commission decided to postpone indefinitely, all scheduled activities leading to the conduct of the 31st August, 2024 Local Government Councils Elections”.