The Jigawa State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed strong opposition to the state government’s plan to appoint caretaker committees for the 27 local government councils.
In a press statement jointly signed by the state PDP chairman, Honourable Aliyu Idris Diginsa, and secretary, Honourable Isah Gwadayi, the party condemned this move as a violation of Section 7(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which mandates democratically elected local government councils.
The PDP’s statement criticized the Jigawa State House of Assembly’s attempts to modify constitutional provisions to permit the appointment of caretaker committee chairmen.
The party warned that such actions would undermine local governance and fail to represent the people’s interests.
Ali Idris Diginsa emphasized that the PDP would actively resist any attempts by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to impose unelected leaders at the local level, stressing the importance of maintaining democratic processes in governance.
He highlighted the recent legal actions taken by the federal government, through its Attorney General, to secure full autonomy for the 774 local governments across Nigeria, reflecting the party’s determination to uphold constitutional mandates and local government autonomy.
He said, “Attempt made by the Jigawa state House of Assembly to pave away 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 their legal obligation but deliberately refused, neglected and violated its own law that mandated her to publish a timetable for new local government councils 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 to appoint capable hands that can organize council elections immediately.
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The PDP threatened to take a 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.
“We have passed a vote of no confidence on JISIEC and the Governor is not practicing 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 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
Attempts to reach the Jigawa State Commissioner of Information, Youth, and Sports, Mr. Sagiru Musa, for comments on the allegations have proven abortive as multiple calls to his mobile phone went unanswered, and an SMS sent to him regarding the matter received no response.
Additionally, when contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Malam Hamisu Muhammad, stated, “I’m not part of the committee for the formation of the caretaker committee.”
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE