- In July 2024, Nigeria's Supreme Court ruled in favour of Local Government Area autonomy, prohibiting state governors from dissolving democratically elected council officials
- Following the ruling, several states conducted their Local Government elections
- As part of the ongoing efforts to ensure democracy at the local level, some states will be having their Local Government elections in 2025
Following the Supreme Court ruling on July 11, 2024, which upheld the autonomy of Local Government Areas (LGAs) and prohibited governors from dissolving democratically elected council officials, several Nigerian states moved to conduct Local Government elections.
While some states have already held their elections, others have scheduled their local elections for 2025.
States that held LG elections in 2024
States like Ebonyi, Bauchi, Kebbi, Kwara, Imo, Ogun, Ondo, Enugu, Sokoto, Kogi, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, and Rivers conducted their Local Government elections in 2024.
Meanwhile, several states have announced their plans for Local Government elections in 2025, including:
Local government elections in 2025
1. Ondo State
The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) held its local government elections on January 18, 2025.
2. Katsina State
Katsina State Independent Electoral Commission has set February 15, 2025, for its local government elections.
3. Osun State
The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) has scheduled February 22, 2025, for the election of new officials across all the state’s LGAs.
4. Lagos State
In Lagos, the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) will conduct chairmanship elections in the state’s 20 constitutionally recognised LGAs in 2025.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs, and Rural Development, Okanlawon Sanni, confirmed this, adding that the state assembly was drafting a new Local Government Administration Bill to repeal the 2016 law, in line with the Supreme Court ruling.
“The governor will appoint mayors for each LCDA, pending Assembly confirmation. The LCDAs will function under the jurisdiction of the recognised 20 LGAs, which will provide funding,” Sanni stated, adding that the goal was to ensure the LGAs and LCDAs cooperate without conflict over resources.
Autonomy: FG, govs, LG chairs sign implementation agreement
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Federal Government, state governors, and local government chairpersons finalised a technical agreement for the implementation of local government autonomy.
The agreement followed the Supreme Court ruling in July 2024 affirming that state governors no longer have the right to withhold funds meant for local governments.