Danjuma Attah, Gombe
Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s) in Gombe State has called for a participatory, transparent and credible Local Government elections scheduled for next Saturday, 27th April, 2024 in the spirit of Open Governance Participation (OGP).
Dr. Bachama Yusuf, who led other CSO’s on an Advocacy visit to the State Ministry for Local Governments and Community Development, stressed to the Commissioner, Alhaji Abdulkadir Mohammed, the need for the people of the State to be given an enabling atmosphere to exercise their franchise during the election.
According to him, “this will go a long way as a clamour in ensuring ownership of public offices by the citizens especially the Government closest to them”.
Dr. Bachama stated also that “for us, we are committed to mobilizing citizens to actively participate, and we plan to monitor the Electoral process across the 114 Wards going forward”.
He expressed the CSO’s observation that even when it’s a known fact that Local Government is the closest to the people, there has been growing concern and perception on the conduct of the LG elections, not one in Gombe State but the nation at large.
He said, “this has caused an alarming erosion of trust in the Local Government Election processes among most people, thereby causing voter apathy, and loss of interest by varying actors”.
Responding, the State Commissioner for Local Governments and Community Development, Alhaji Abdulkadir Mohammed commended the CSO’s for the visit and the many issues they raised concern about.
He however stated that the conduct of the Local Government election is not directly under the mandate of his ministry but the Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission as the ministry only wait for the Commission to handover the elected chairman to them.
“Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a Multi-stakeholder Global best practice mechanism involving Government and the Civil Society working to make Government more open, accountable, and responsive to the citizens, with Co-creation as the underlying principle.
“With efforts from various stakeholders, Gombe State signed up to the OGP having submitted letter of intent by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and subsequent approval by the OGP National Secretariat”, Dr. Bachama stated in his speech.
