Fresh local government elections would be conducted in Imo State, Governor Hope Uzodinma has said.
The governor announced this on Tuesday, during his first broadcast to the people of the state.
He promised that the elections would be credible and would take place as soon as possible.
He had sacked all the members of the interim management committees in the 27 councils of the state.
The committees were constituted by the ousted governor, Emeka Ihedioha, on assumption of office in June, 2019, after suspending the elected office holders following a resolution to that effect by the State House of Assembly.
The House, in passing the resolution, had alleged that the elected council officials of financial misappropriation.
The suspended executives – all members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) – were elected in an election conducted in 2018, during the Rochas Okorocha administration.
But Uzodinma, while hosting the traditional rulers on Monday, had said that pending the conduct of council elections, LGAs would be run by the Directors of Administration and General Services (DAGS).
In the broadcast, Governor Uzodinma pledged that his administration would uphold the independence and autonomy of the Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state.
He said there would be no more deductions from Federal allocations meant for the councils.
He also said his administration would restructure the state-local government Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JACC) to manage council funds.
Uzodinma took office as governor following the Supreme Court judgment, which removed Hon Emeka Ihedioha. He was sworn-in on Wednesday, January 15, after collecting his Certificate of return from the INEC.