After nearly two years in office, the administration led by Governor Chukwuma Soludo has responded to persistent calls from Civil Society Organizations and other key stakeholders by setting a date for the long-awaited local government elections in Anambra State. The election is scheduled to take place on September 28th, 2024.
This significant announcement was made public on Monday through a press release issued by the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC). Governor Soludo, who recently inaugurated new members of the electoral commission, emphasized the importance of delivering a free, fair, and credible election to the people of Anambra.
The decision to conduct the local government elections was a key agenda item during the state’s weekly Executive Council meeting, underscoring the administration’s commitment to restoring grassroots democracy in the state. ANSIEC’s chairman, Genevieve C. Osakwe, highlighted in the statement:
“The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission wishes to notify all registered political parties and the general public that the local government elections will be held on Saturday, September 28th, 2024. The election timetable and schedule of activities will be available at the ANSIEC headquarters in Awka starting from Wednesday, August 14th, 2024.”
This announcement marks the first local government election in Anambra since 2013, during the tenure of former Governor Peter Obi. In the interim, successive administrations have relied on caretaker committees to manage local governments, a practice that has been criticized for stifling development across the state’s communities.
The timing of the announcement has caught many political parties off guard, leaving them with just six weeks to prepare their candidates and run their campaigns.
As the date draws near, all eyes will be on ANSIEC and the Soludo administration to ensure a transparent and smooth electoral process that will finally give Anambra’s local governments a fresh mandate.
