By Abigail Philip David
The Kaduna State House of Assembly has refuted allegations that it is planning to amend the state’s Local Government Electoral Law ahead of the local government elections scheduled for October 19, 2024.
Henry Marah, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, addressed the claims during a press briefing in Kaduna on Wednesday. He stated that no such amendment was included in the Assembly’s agenda for its October 9 session.
This clarification comes in response to concerns raised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whose state chairman, Edward Masha, alleged that the Assembly was attempting to amend the Kaduna State Local Government Law, 2024, just days before the election.
Masha had warned that any attempt to alter the law, particularly regarding the declaration of results and appointment of collation officers, would undermine the integrity of the election. “The proposed amendment contradicts the Local Government Election Law, which was already amended and gazetted in July 2024,” Masha said during a press conference.
He urged the Kaduna State Governor, security agencies, and the public to ensure a peaceful and transparent election process, stressing the importance of local government polls in Nigeria’s democracy. Masha also vowed that the PDP and the people of Kaduna would resist any efforts to manipulate the election.
In response, Marah dismissed the allegations, asserting that no discussions about amending the electoral law had taken place. “We have adhered strictly to our order paper, and as you can see, there is no mention of any amendments to the electoral law,” Marah stated. He further emphasized that since the Supreme Court’s July ruling on financial autonomy for local governments, there had been no discussions about changing the law.
Marah did acknowledge a previous amendment that removed the use of electronic voting machines due to logistical challenges. He explained that the Independent National Electoral Commission had increased the number of polling units across the state, but the state was not prepared to procure the machines in time for the elections.
He assured the public that the Assembly remains committed to serving the people’s interests and will not act in a way that undermines their welfare, reiterating the independence of the legislative body from the state government.
