JUST IN: Jigawa Dissolves Elected Local Government Councils.

By Mohammed Abubakar Dutse

24-hours after the expiration of the tenure of elected 27 local government chairmen in Jigawa state, the state government has announced the dissolution of the councils in the state

Consequently, the government has directed the Directors of Administration and General Services (DAGs) to take over the administration of the local governments immediately

Najib Umar, the spokesperson, on behalf of the Commissioner of the Ministry for Local Government and Community Development in a statement announced the dissolution of the councils on Friday.

Also affected by the dissolution, according to the statement, included all appointed officials, such as Council Secretaries, Supervisory Councillors, Special Advisers, and Special Assistants of all the Local Government Councils.

According to the statement, “On behalf of the Jigawa State Government Under the leadership of His Excellency, the Governor Malam Umar A. Namadi FCA, the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Ahmed Garba MK, Congratulates the outgoing officials on the successful conduct of their tenures, which shows the significant contributions rendered to the development of their areas and the state in general.”

He further quoted the Commissioner as calling on the dissolved council bosses and officials to immediately hand over of all government’s belongings in their possessions.

It would be recalled that the Independent Electoral Commission (JISIEC) had on June 5 announced the extension of the local government elections to Saturday June 14, 2025 following the the new electoral laws, which requires one year notice before the conduct of the election.

The Chairman of the commission, Alhaji Muhammad Auwalu Harbo, who confirmed the postponement while briefing stakeholders at the commission’s headquarters, cited the 2022 Electoral Act, which provided 360 days as the previous 90 days as notice for political parties to prepare for subsequent local government elections.

But Harbo, while addressing the stakeholders, including leadership of the political parties said the decision was purely to comply with the spirit and letters of the Electoral Act, saying doing anything on the contrary would amount to violating the law.

Besides he confirmed that the decision had the input of the political parties on the need to follow due process .

He said: “While preparing the conduct of this year’s elections, (2024) received series of requests from different groups of people, including political parties and Inter Party Advisory Council, (IPAC) Jigawa State chapter for the Commission to request the amendment of the state electoral law 2012 to reflect the in mandatory requirements of 360 days.”