- IPAC opposes the appointment of sole administrators in Kebbi State, urging timely elections to maintain democratic principles
- Mohammed highlights the standard two-year tenure for elected council chairmen, emphasizing the need for democratic processes in local governance
The Interparty Advisory Council (IPAC) in Kebbi State has opposed the continuous appointment of sole administrators across the state’s 21 local government councils.
Chairman of IPAC, Ibrahim Mohammed, raised concerns during a discussion with state assembly members, labeling the absence of elections in the local governments as a moral dilemma for the state government.
Mohammed stressed that the standard tenure for elected council chairmen is two years, underscoring the importance of conducting timely elections to uphold democratic principles.
Following the expiration of the tenure of Kebbi State Council chairmen on February 5, sole administrators were sworn in on March 5. In response, House Speaker Muhammed Usman Zuru referenced Section 9 of the 2008 local government law, which grants the Governor the authority to appoint sole administrators within a nine-month period.
Zuru clarified that the Governor may schedule elections within the initial three months, with the flexibility to extend the timeline for another three months if the Kebbi State Independent Electoral Commission (KESIEC) is unprepared. This extension can be further prolonged, totaling nine months in accordance with the law.