LGA - Abia ThinkTank News

Sep

22

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

Shehu Sani Urges FGN To Change LGA ‘Chairman’ Title To ‘Mayor’

Columns/Opinions/Letters, FGN, LGA, News Flash

Shehu Sani Urges FG To Change LG ‘Chairman’ Title To ‘Mayor’ A former lawmaker representing Kaduna Central, Senator Shehu Sani, on Sunday urged the Federal Government and relevant authorities to consider replacing the designation of Local Government “Chairman” with the title of “Mayor,” arguing that the current nomenclature does not properly reflect the executive authority of the office. In a post on his official Facebook page, Sani noted that the title “Chairman” appears more suited to a committee setting than an executive office, adding that it undermines the importance of local government as the third tier of governance in the…

Aug

31

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

Wike Reclaims Control Of Rivers LGs As Fubara, Loyalists Shun Polls

News Flash, LGA, Politics

Wike Reclaims Control of Rivers LGs as Fubara, Loyalists Shun Polls Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has regained his grip on Rivers politics following Saturday’s local government elections organized by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). The polls came after months of crisis and the Supreme Court’s nullification of the controversial October 2024 elections earlier won by Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s loyalists. The exercise, conducted across all 23 LGAs, saw Wike’s allies dominate, with most contesting under the APC platform, while a few ran under the PDP in key areas such as Obio-Akpor and Port Harcourt. Political observers say…

Aug

12

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

A Rebuttal To Allegations Of Gubernatorial Misappropriation Of Local Government Allocations – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Abia State, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Good Governance, LGA

A Rebuttal to Allegations of Gubernatorial Misappropriation of Local Government Allocations I. Deconstruction of Core Allegations Through Constitutional and Statutory PrismsThe primary accusation—that Governor Alex Otti sought legislative sanction to divert 90% of Local Government Area (LGA) funds—constitutes a fundamental misrepresentation of legislative intent and statutory process. No such bill was introduced before the Abia State House of Assembly. The conflation arises from deliberate mischaracterization of the Abia State Rural Access Road Agency (RAAMP) Bill, a World Bank-coordinated infrastructure initiative requiring pro rata counterpart funding. This aligns with established intergovernmental fiscal practices under Sections 162(6)-(8) of the 1999 Constitution, wherein…

Jun

21

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

Rivers LGA Administrator Resigns After Three Months In Office

LGA, News Flash, Politics

Rivers LGA Administrator Resigns After Three Months In Office Goodluck Iheamnacho, the administrator of Ahoada east LGA in Rivers, resigned on Friday after serving a little over three months in office. In a resignation letter dated June 20 and addressed to Ibok-Ete Ibas, the state’s sole administrator, Iheamnacho said he was leaving the position to return to the private sector and thanked the people of the LGA for the opportunity to serve them. “I humbly write to your noble office to convey to you my resignation as the Administrator Ahoada East LGA,” the letter reads. “My decision is informed by…

Jun

09

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

FG To States: Hands Off LG Funds, Supreme Court Ruling Must Stand

FGN, Judiciary, LGA, News Flash

FG to States: Hands Off LG Funds, Supreme Court Ruling Must Stand The Federal Government has reiterated that no state government has the legal authority to collect or manage funds meant for local government areas (LGAs). In a firm response to Osun State’s legal action, the FG maintained that all allocations from the Federation Account must be paid directly to LGAs, in strict compliance with an earlier Supreme Court judgment. The FG’s affidavit, filed at the apex court, accused Osun State of unlawfully collecting LG funds between July 2024 and February 2025. It urged the court to dismiss Osun's case,…

Mar

13

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

Nkporo Youths Pay Courtesy Visit To The Executive Mayor Of Ohafia LGA Chief Eleanya Ojuu Kalu

Abia State, Abia North, Good Governance, LGA, Ohafia LGA, Youths

NKPORO YOUTHS PAYS COURTESY VISIT TO THE EXECUTIVE MAYOR OF OHAFIA LGA CHIEF ELEANYA OJUU KALU Earlier today, the Nkporo Youth paid a solidarity visit to the office of Chief Eleanya Ojuu Kalu, the Executive Mayor of Ohafia LGA. During the visit, Elder Otuwe Agwu, the Youths Leader speaking on behalf of the Nkporo Youth, pledged their unwavering support to the Mayor's government, demonstrating their commitment to supporting the development and progress of Ohafia LGA. In response, Chief Eleanya Ojuu Kalu expressed his gratitude for the youths' support and reassured them of his dedication to initiating ideas and projects that…

Mar

06

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

Building Trust At The Grassroots: ABIA State’s Public Confidence Initiatives And Nigeria’s Constitutional Framework For Local Governance – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Abia State, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Good Governance, LGA, Politics

Building Trust at the Grassroots: Abia State’s Public Confidence Initiatives and Nigeria’s Constitutional Framework for Local Governance IntroductionPublic confidence in governance hinges on transparency, accountability, and community engagement. In Nigeria, the 1999 Constitution mandates democratically elected Local Government Areas (LGAs) but leaves ambiguities around tenure, creating challenges for trust-building. Abia State has emerged as a case study in aligning its public confidence programs with constitutional imperatives to strengthen grassroots governance. This article explores how Abia’s initiatives address gaps in the constitutional framework while fostering trust through participatory democracy and fiscal accountability. 1. Constitutional Context: LGAs and Democratic Imperatives Nigeria’s 1999…

Feb

28

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

Supreme Court Nullifies Rivers LGA Elections

Judiciary, LGA, News Flash, South South

Supreme Court Nullifies Rivers LG Elections The Supreme Court, on Friday, nullified the outcome of the Local Government Elections that were held in Rivers State on October 5, 2024. The apex court upheld an appeal that was brought before it by the All Progressives Congress, APC. In a unanimous decision by a five-member panel led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, the court vacated the November 21, 2024, judgement of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, which validated the elections. In its lead judgement that was delivered by Justice Jamilu Tukur, the Supreme Court held that there was no evidence…

Feb

18

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

OSHUN: LGA Chairman, Others Killed As APC, PDP Battle For Councils Control

Crime, LGA, News Flash, South West

OSHUN: LG Chairman, Others Killed As APC, PDP Battle For Councils Control The purportedly reinstated Chairman of Irewole Local Government, Osun State, Mr Remi Abass was reportedly killed by hoodlums working for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, after taking over the council secretariat in Ikire. It would be recalled that both parties have been laying claim to control of the third tier of government as the APC claimed that the Court of Appeal judgement delivered last week has reinstated the sacked elected council chairmen and councillors while the State Government said the election was nullified by the Federal High…

Dec

23

2024

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By Abia ThinkTank

Breaking! History Made As Hon. Evoh Okechukwu Of Ebonyi State Win The Presidency Of The National Councillors Forum Of Nigeria

News Flash, LGA, Politics

Breaking! History made as Hon. Evoh Okechukwu becomes the first South East representative to win the presidency of the National Councillors Forum of Nigeria! Hon. Evoh Okechukwu, has been elected the President of the National Councillors Forum of Nigeria. He has recently shared some exciting updates as well. As the leader of the forum, which comprises approximately 8,806 councillors across Nigeria's 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs), Hon. Okechukwu highlighted the significant presence of councillors from the South East region at a recent gathering. Notably, out of the 6,417 councillors in attendance, 10 were from the South East, with 2 from…