A former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in the 2021 Anambra State gubernatorial election, Mr Valentine Ozigbo, has called on Governor Charles Soludo to ensure that the state conducts its council elections within the next three months.
Ozigbo made the call on Thursday in a statement on his official X handle while reacting to the decision of the Supreme Court, granting full financial autonomy to all the Local Governments in Nigeria.
DAILY POST reports that the Supreme Court on Thursday directed that Local Government allocation from the Federation Account should, henceforth, be paid directly to them.
The apex court also held that the appointment of Caretaker Committees by State governors remains illegal and unconstitutional.
Reacting, Ozigbo, who is currently aspiring for the state’s top job in the 2025 election under the platform of the Labour Party, called on Governor Soludo to quickly conduct LG elections in the state.
He said, “we call on Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo to immediately put in motion concrete steps and timelines for the conduct of Local Government Election in the State in not more than three months.
“While the Supreme Court is forcing Governor Soludo to fulfill his promise of over two years to conduct a Local Government Election, it is expected that he understands that this is the time to move from rhetoric and promises to action.
“The Local Government provides the opportunity for people at the grassroots to choose their leaders democratically. These leaders will ensure transparency, accountability and responsiveness to the needs of their people at the local level”.