The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Jigawa State has threatened to challenge the state government over the alleged plans to enforce caretaker committees in 27 local government councils in the state.
A press statement signed and issued by the state PDP chairman and secretary, Hon. Aliyu Idris Diginsa and Hon. Isah Gwadayi lmade available to newsmen in Dutse, the state capital, said enforcing undemocratically elected leaders at the local government councils is a violation of Section 7(1) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
It stated that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has condemned the plans and warned against the attempt by the Jigawa State House Assembly to tamper with the provisions of Section 7(1) of the Construction of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) to allow the state government impose caretaker committee chairmen on the people at the 27 local Government of the state.
Hon. Ali Idris Diginsa noted that the PDP would not fold its hands and allow the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to mess up the government at the grassroots that is closer to the people.
According to the statement “Drawing strength from the recent move by the Federal Government through its Attorney General who dragged the 36 State Governors before the Supreme Court seeking for full autonomy for the 774 LGs and the Supreme Court’s order for them to file their respective defence. We are not going to accept any caretaker chairman in the state”.
He said, “Attempt made by the Jigawa State House of Assembly to pave way for the Jigawa State Government to appoint sole administrators for the 27 Local government councils of Jigawa state is unconstitutional and undemocratic.
“Indeed, the legislative action of the Jigawa state House of Assembly is a calculated attempt to amend the clear and unambiguous provisions of Section 7 subsection 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which made it mandatory for every Local Government Council in Nigeria to be headed by democratically elected Local government council chairmen.
“And the government of every state shall ensure they exist under the law. Unfortunately, that is not the case in Jigawa state, even the so-called Jigawa State Independent Electoral Commission has failed in discharging its legal obligation but deliberately refused, neglected and violated its law that mandated her to publish a timetable for the new local government council election, not later than 90 days to the expiration of the tenure of office of the current local government councils as provided by the provisions of section 64(1) of the Jigawa state Independent Electoral Commission Law without any legal justification”.
The statement further stated that the inaction of the Commission to do the needful left us with no other option than to pass a vote of no confidence on the leadership of the Commission and urge the Jigawa state government to dissolve it forthwith and appoint capable hands that can organize council elections immediately.
The PDP threatened to take legal action to enforce the entrenched provisions of the Constitution against the Jigawa state Government, the Jigawa state House of Assembly and the Jigawa state Independent Electoral Commission.
“We have passed a vote of no confidence on JISIEC and the Governor is not practising proper democracy because he has ignored the constitution and the State assembly by doing what is antithetical to the provisions of the constitution. The Governor after one year has nothing to show, he has wasted resources in renovating graveyards and public toilets in the State.
“We have written a letter to them and they have not replied to us and that is why they have amended the law and they are going to dissolve the Local Government and set up caretaker committee chairmen and we are calling on them to organize elections before the tenure of the current occupants of the local government councils expires immediately.
“They should retrace their steps and conduct Local Government Elections at the expiration of the tenure of the current LG chairmen
When contacted the Jigawa state commissioner of Information Youth Spot, Mr Sagiru Musa to comment on the allegations to prove abortive.
All the calls put to his mobile phone were not picked and an SMS sent to him on the matter never responded.
