TheCable

The Nigerian Human Rights Community (NIHRCO), a civil society organisation (CSO), says it will deploy 400 observers to monitor the local government election scheduled to be held in Ekiti state on December 2.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, NIHRCO said the observers will monitor and document issues relating to the poll during and after the election.

“The local councils are the first point of economic reference by Nigerians. The councils are the closest to the people,” the statement reads.

“The local council officials are the ones the people see and relate with on local, state and national issues of development.

“It remains a critical aspect of sustainable development that is unfortunately ignored by the people, the opposition and the local and international communities.”

The group added that the majority of Nigerians live in rural communities and are directly affected by socio-economic situations at the local level.

According to the CSO, it is high time Nigerians began to take local government elections seriously.

“If Nigeria can get local government elections right, dealing with challenges in national elections will be easier,” the group added.