Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has expressed his readiness to conduct credible and acceptable local government elections across the State.
The Governor inaugurated Hon. Bala Aliyu Gusau as the chairman of the Zamfara State Independent Electoral Commission, ZASIEC, as part of his administration’s preparations for the local government election.
The swearing-in ceremony was held on Monday, during the Zamfara State Executive Council meeting at the council chamber, Government House, Gusau.
A statement issued by the Governor’s spokesman, Sulaiman Bala Idris, disclosed that the current leadership of the 14 Sole Administrators will end on October 23, 2024.
The statement added that the chairman of ZASIEC was sworn in by the Chief Judge, Justice Kulu Aliyu, represented by Justice Mukhtar Yusha’u, at the instance of the Executive Council.
The Governor said he signed the Zamfara State Electoral Law amendments, a few weeks ago regarding the upcoming local government election.
He said: “Based on the Supreme Court’s recent judgment concerning Local Government elections, we needed to conduct elections in our local government councils.
“Accordingly, with the signing of the amended law, the State Independent Elections Commission will announce the election timetable as soon as possible so that we will have democratically elected local government councils in Zamfara State.
“The Zamfara State Independent Electoral Council, ZASIEC, is to come up with guidelines and modalities on the elections, and it is expected that we all will give the necessary support and cooperation towards the success of the exercise.”
In another development, Governor Lawal instructed the Secretary to the State Government to work with the Deputy Governor to promptly arrange the inauguration of the Zamfara State Investment Promotion Agency, ZIPA, so that it could operate effectively.