Bayelsa LG election: LP’s Eradiri calls for local govt. autonomy

Labour Party governorship candidate in the Nov. 11, 2023 election in Bayelsa, Udengs Eradiri, has called on the National Assembly (NA) to grant local government administration its due autonomy.

Eradiri made the call on Thursday in Yenagoa while expressing concern over the state local government elections slated for Saturday.

He decried the ongoing electoral process leading to the election in the state’s eight local governments, describing it as undemocratic and shameful.

Eradiri said it was high time the NA and the President came to the rescue of local government administration by breaking state governors’ grip on it.

He called for the overhaul of the section of the constitution establishing the local government, especially aspects promoting the undue influence of state governors.

According to him, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be allowed to conduct elections for vacant local government positions.

He said: “Until the people are allowed to freely elect their leaders at the grassroots, the local government will continue to serve only the interest of governors and not those of the people.

“And until local government is restructured to play its functions, the growth and development of this country will continue to slow down.”

Eradiri, a former Commissioner for Youth and Environment in the state, alleged that the electoral process was laced with high-handedness, corrupt practices, and other irregularities.

He alleged that members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) boldly walked the streets, boasting that election results had already been written to favour their candidates.

He wondered why governors could not muster the political will to initiate local government electoral reforms, but would constantly and loudly call for INEC reforms, especially when not in the ruling party.

Eradiri, a former President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), however, noted that a former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, once reformed the local government election in his state.

According to him, El-Rufai introduced electronic voting which created a level playing field that allowed the opposing PDP to win some local government areas.

Dr Peter Singerbelle, Chairman of Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission, however, denied the allegation of bias in favour of the ruling party in the state.

Singerbelle dismissed the allegation while speaking during a training for ad-hoc staff for the council election slated for Saturday.

“There is going to be a level playing ground for all. There are 17 parties in the contest and those who are serious are already campaigning vigorously,” he said.

Singabelle noted that he has a reputation to protect as an accomplished administrator and assured that he would be fair and firm.