Larry Odungide
After a lengthy seven-year wait, Kwara State is finally gearing up for local government elections. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has officially assented to the Local Government Amendment Bill, paving the way for the eagerly anticipated polls.
“We are looking forward to holding the local government elections very shortly,” declared AbdulRazaq, his words reverberating across the state with relief and excitement. The previous local elections in Kwara took place way back in October 2017, leaving a considerable vacuum in grassroots governance.
The Governor expressed his gratitude to the State House of Assembly for its crucial role in passing the vital bill. This legal framework now clears the path for the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) to get on with the vital task of organizing the elections.
KWASIEC, in a statement signed by its chairman, Mr Okanla Baba, echoed the Governor’s enthusiasm. “We are excited to receive the news of the passage of the amendments to the law,” Baba declared. He further announced that KWASIEC will officially unveil the election schedule in February 2024, signifying the commencement of the long-awaited electoral process.
The seven-year delay in holding local elections was a source of growing frustration for many Kwara residents. The absence of elected local officials meant a lack of progress on crucial issues like community development, sanitation, and security, directly impacting the lives of ordinary citizens.
The impending elections offer a ray of hope for a more responsive and accountable local governance system. With the necessary legal framework in place and KWASIEC ready to roll, Kwara is finally poised to witness the return of democracy to its grassroots level.
