The Kwara State gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Simeon Ajibola has promised to make local governments autonomous if elected into office next year.

Speaking in Ilorin, Ajibola said granting autonomy to local governments would enable the third tier of government to be efficiently managed.

He said his administration would allow local councils to elect their chairmen and councillors independently and effectively manage their resources.

He said: "If local governments are working, the state is working. If all interventionist programmes from the federal government are working, there would be development, there would be good governance."

Most states, including Kwara, did not approve local government ongoing constitutional review process.

However, Ajibola said his government would provide mechanisms for the LG autonomy in order to enhance governance in the state, saying: "I will run the affairs of the state as transparently to ensure that the resources of the state are used for the people of the state."