LG Elections: Jigawa PDP Condemns Plan to Impose Caretaker Chairmen
From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
The Jigawa state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the alleged plans by the state government to impose caretaker committee chairmen on the 27 local government areas.
In a statement signed by the state PDP chairman, Aliyu Idris Diginsa, and secretary, Isah Gwadayi, the party warned against tampering with the provisions of Section 7(1) of the Constitution, which mandates democratically elected local government council chairmen.
The PDP stated that the move by the Jigawa State House of Assembly to allow the state government to appoint sole administrators is unconstitutional and undemocratic.
This action, the party argued, is a deliberate attempt to amend the clear and unambiguous provisions of the Constitution, which mandates every local government council in Nigeria to be headed by democratically elected chairmen.
The party also criticized the Jigawa state Independent Electoral Commission for failing to discharge its legal obligation to publish a timetable for new local government council elections, as provided by the provisions of section 64(1) of the Jigawa state Independent Electoral Commission Law.
The PDP alleged that the commission has deliberately refused, neglected, and violated its own law, and therefore passed a vote of no confidence on the leadership of the commission.
The PDP threatened to take legal action to enforce the entrenched provisions of the Constitution against the Jigawa state Government, Jigawa state House of Assembly, and the Jigawa state Independent Electoral Commission.
The party demanded that the state government dissolve the electoral commission and appoint capable hands to organize council elections immediately.
Furthermore, the PDP called on the state government to conduct local government elections before the tenure of the current occupants expires, warning that any attempt to impose caretaker committee chairmen on the local governments would be met with legal action.
The party accused the Governor of wasting resources on renovating graveyards and public toilets in the state, rather than conducting elections as mandated by law.
The PDP stated that it would not fold its arms and allow the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to mess up the government at the grassroots level, just as it has done at the state level.
The party drew strength from the recent move by the federal Government, through its Attorney General, who dragged the 36 State Governors before the Supreme Court seeking full autonomy for the 774 LGs, and the Supreme Court’s order for them to file their respective defense.
The PDP emphasized that it would not accept any caretaker chairman in the state, and urged the Jigawa state government to retrace its steps and conduct local government elections at the expiration of the tenure of the current LG chairmen.
