IPAC threatens to sue Gombe Gov over attempt to institute Caretaker in LGAs
By Chima Azubuike
Following the expiration of tenure of office of Local Government Council Chairmen across 11 Local Government Areas of Gombe State, Inter-Party Advisory Council has threatened to institute legal case against Governor Muhammadu Yahaya.
The council alleged that Yahaya had commenced processes with the State House of Assembly towards conferring them with caretaker status.
Our Correspondent reports that Yahaya had on Wednesday 21st December 2022 asked the LG bosses to hand over to their secretaries after the expiration of their two-year tenure.
Issuing the threat in a media briefing organised in Gombe IPAC’s Public Relations Officer Abubakar Aliyu, said the warning was endorsed by over 12 political parties out of out about 18 registered political parties.
Some of which include; “ADC, Accord, YPP, APP, APGA, AAC, NNPP, Labour, APM, ADP.”
Aliyu said, “It is on record that on the 19th day of December, 2022 the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Gombe State issued a Notification on the expiration of Tenure of Local Government Councils/Handing over Notes to all the elected eleven (11) Local Government Chairmen of the Gombe State.
“That pursuant to the said Notification dated the 19th December, 2022 the Executive Governor of Gombe State Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya applied and requested the Gombe State House of Assembly to approval for the appointment of the 11 local Government Chairmen as Caretakers against the existing norms and procedure.
‘That the Gombe State House of Assembly has approved the Executive Governors request to appoint the Caretakers to supervise the administrative functions and affairs of the eleven (11) Local Government Councils of the Gombe State. The Local Government is regarded as the third tier of Government in Nigeria. The provision of section 7 sub 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended is to the effect that;
“The system of the local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this constitution is guaranteed.”
While decrying the challenges of delaying the council election, the IPAC said it would not allow any attempt to circumvent the thrust of the people.
“The irregular interval for delaying in conducting the local government election as well as the appointment of Caretakers to serve and supervise the administrative functions of the local government as Chairmen is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.
Therefore, in opposing the effort to the Governor of Gombe State to appoint Caretakers to supervise the administrative functions of the 11 local Government Councils of Gombe State, we call on the Gombe State Government henceforth to make arrangement for conducting local Government election in Gombe State,” Aliyu added.
Answering question, on it next move should the governor fail to rescind his alleged move of making past chairmen caretakers Saleh Lawan, explained that they would institute legal action.
“After one month from now we will go to court, if the governor does not heed to our call,” Lawan said.
