From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi
The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bauchi has rejected the recent appointment of caretaker committee for the 20 local government areas of the state by the state governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, instead of the government conducting elections into the local councils.
The state governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, had last month sworn-in caretaker committee to oversee the activities of the local councils in the state.
The Chairman of the party, Hon.Uba Ahmed Nana, while speaking to newsmen at the APC secretariat stated that he was raising the alarm in order to safeguard the nascent democracy from being hijacked by selfish politician.
Nana added that the local government law as promulgated by the House of Assembly does not give room for the executive to continue to appoint care-taker committees in all the 20 councils. He called on the government to conduct election.
He disagreed with the excuse given by the government for not conducting election into the local governments even as he pointed out that the exercise had been conducted in Yobe, Borno and Plateau states.
The appointment, according to the APC chairman, stands null and void disclosing that the party is exploring steps to stop government action through court process.
“Peace, progress and sustenance of democracy can best be achieved through adherence to the rule of law and provisions of the constitution of Nigeria which are supreme to any law promulgated by every state.
“We reject the appointment of council care-takers and demand elections as envisage by the constitution while we frown at the persistent refusal of Yuguda to release funds to the state electoral body to conduct elections. Therefore, the APC calls on the government and the House of Assembly to rescind its decision to comply with Section 7 of the Nigeria constitution and mandate BASIEC to conduct council elections immediately,” he said.
It also urges Bauchi state government to abide by the principles of the rule of law and to avoid acts that will disrupt the relative peace in the state by paying civil servants salary arrears, pensions and gratuities in Ramadan period.
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