THE Senate has asked the Federal Government to deny allocations to Local Governments Councils where selections were done, akin to appointment of Caretaker Committees.
The Senate has condemned in very strong terms, what it described as blatant disregard for democratic principles in the local government elections of Saturday, October 5 conducted by the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, BSIEC.
The Upper Chamber has urged the Commission to as a matter of urgency, conduct polls in those place where elections did not hold and allow the people to choose the representatives of their choice.
The Upper Chamber has also urged relevant government institutions to nullify the sham elections and do the right thing in line with laid down principles of law and order.
Resolutions of the Senate were sequel to a motion titled "The Sham Local Government Elections of Saturday, Oct. 5: Abuse of the Constitution and Need for Intervention by the Senate".
The motion was sponsored by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, PDP, Benue South and co-sponsored by Senator Titus Zam, APC-Benue North West, Senator Emmanuel Udende, APC, Benue North East and Senator Tony Nwoye, LP-Anambra North.
In his presentation, Senator Moro who noted that in a federation, elections were the backbone of democracy, allowing citizens to choose their representatives at various levels of government, said that the "Senate Notes that in a federation, elections are the backbone of democracy, allowing citizens to choose their representatives at various levels of government; and the right to franchise of citizens in Nigeria is sacrosanct and constitutionally guaranteed under Sections 77 to 91 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), specifically focusing on the citizens' rights to vote and be voted for in an electoral process
"Also notes that on the 5th of October, 2024, Local Government Council Elections were scheduled to hold in Benue State and in other parts of Nigeria, and while the electorates excitedly trooped out in their numbers to exercise their franchise to elect leaders who will represent their will at the local government councils, they waited for hours in vain as neither election materials nor electoral officers showed up in many of the polling
"Further notes that in most places, elections took place in the private homes of the chieftains of the ruling par making the entire process a mere coronation of candidates of the ruling party and not a proper election contemplated under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended); and
"Equally notes that the provisions of Section 197 of the said Constitution, together with the Third Schedule, P. 11 of the Constitution have been grossly breached and the said Local Government Council Elections of! October, 2024 in Benue State and in some parts of Nigeria, were marred by rampant manipulation, the thwarting the goal of establishing truly representative local governments in Nigeria."
Supporting the motion, Sen. Emmanuel Udende said that "there was no election in Benue whether APC or what, there was no election. The fact that I'm APC I cannot support what is wrong."
Similarly, Senator Titus Zam said "I speak to the fact that this is a motion for our concern, not just as senators but as ambassadors of the good people of Benue
"Our people have cried to us and have asked us to voice this charade out in this hallowed chamber for the attention our colleagues.
"So that collectively, we shall find a way toward resolving this heinous political crime that is being committed at the sub-national levels of this country.
"You will agree with me that in a democracy, election is not just a mere political activity, it is supposed to be an avenue where our mandate, our authority to provide leadership is derived from.
"That is the whole essence of election in a democracy. And this edifice called democracy which we are all enjoying, didn't just come about.
"People sacrificed so much to bring about this democracy that is being deliberately deconstructed, destroyed, annihilated and dismembered by a select few leaders at the sub-national levels. It calls for concern,"
On his part, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, APC, Kano North said "It is really known to everyone that the bedrock of every democracy is the revived hope of the people to elect their leaders in a free and fair election.
"But the sad commentary is that we all know that we don't have anything like free and fair election in the local government in the way sbeh.b manner we elect those that lead our local government in this country across party lines".
In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio who that the the National Assembly must take steps to ensure that the judgment of the Supreme Court on local government autonomy was upheld, said, "We, on our part in the National Assembly, we must take the next step to ensure that the decision that has been so far given by the Supreme Court becomes alive.
"Even these things of election, selection or coronation of local government chairmen and councillors, we are the ones to do something about it.
"We are giving notice to the public that we are poised to change the situation for the better. All hands must be on deck. We must have a meeting; we must have a national dialogue; the president must be there, governors must be there".
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