Amid Pressure to Hold LG Elections, Gov. Soludo Sacks 21 LG Transition Chairmen

Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has dismissed all 21 local government transition chairpersons across the state.

The directive, dated May 17 and signed by Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Community Affairs, Collins Nwabunwanne, requires the outgoing chairpersons to transfer their responsibilities to the Heads of Local Government Administrations (HLGAs) by Monday, May 20.

The letter stated:

Following the expiration of your tenure as Transition Committee Chairman, you are now directed to hand over the affairs of your Local Government Council to the Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA) in your respective Local Government Councils.

This directive takes effect from Monday, 20th day of May, 2024. Thank you for your service to the state. All replies are to be addressed to the Honourable Commissioner.

The governor’s move comes amid widespread public demand for local government elections. In response to this outcry, Governor Soludo has instructed party stakeholders to propose candidates for new transition committees. Notably, he emphasised that the nominees must include women, reflecting a commitment to gender inclusivity within the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, conveyed the directive to the transition committee chairpersons.

The directive specified that stakeholders in each local government area should meet on May 18th or 19th, 2024, to recommend three candidates for Transition Committee Chairmen and Local Government Education Secretaries.

For the Transition Committee Chairmen, at least one of the three nominees must be a woman, while for the Education Secretaries, two must be women.

Anambra State has relied on transition committees for local governance, criticised by opposition parties and stakeholders who argue that it undermines the local government system.

The state’s last local government election was held by former Governor Peter Obi just before the end of his second term.

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