•Hyacinth Alia
The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), in Benue state has condemned the appointment of Caretaker Committees for 23 Local Government Council by Governor Hyacinth Alia saying it was in total disregard of a subsisting court order restraining the government from doing so.
The party said Governor Alia’s constitution of caretaker committees not only disdains the rule of law but also mocks his promise to ensure local government autonomy, reports Daily Sun.
The state government had, within the week, announced the constitution of Caretaker committee with eight members for each LGAs, few months after the suspension of the elected council chairmen by the State Assembly.
The PDP in a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Chief Bemgba Iortyom and made available to newsmen in Makurdi today, recalled that the National Industrial Court in Makurdi had, in June 15, 2023, in a suit by the suspended Chairman, marked NICN/MKD/31/2023, issued an Order of Perpetual Injunction against the government or its agents from dissolving or interfering with the operation and rights of the Councils.
The party noted that despite the court order, the government went ahead to dissolve the councils in total disregard for the consequent contempt ruling, and has further constituted Caretaker Committees for the Councils.
According to PDP, “this judgement of the court was not appealed against by the Benue State Government or any of its agents, therefore, the judgement has binding force which is above any authority existing under the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, meaning, therefore, that under the protective umbrella of the court judgement, the 23 elected council administrations in Benue State remain validly in office with a recognized mandate which subsists until the stipulated date of expiry.
“The unilateral and arbitrary decision to appoint Local Government Caretaker Committees in the manner the governor has done brazenly violates express provisions of law on constitution of government at the third tier of administration, as well as it holds in contempt, orders of the law courts which is not only an affront to the judiciary but also a direct attack on the democratic rights of the people of Benue State.
“PDP reminds Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Benue State Government that the judiciary is a fundamental pillar of our democracy, and its decisions must be respected and upheld by all, and the appointment of Caretaker Committees in open disregard of subsisting court orders is not only illegal but also negates the principles of democratic governance, which he swore on oath to uphold.
“We at the same time urge the governor to redeem his image before the world by reversing this unjust and unlawful action of appointment of the so called caretaker committees and to respect the rule of law by obeying the numerous court orders which have validated the tenure and mandate of the elected council administration, as the people of Benue State deserve a government that upholds the principles of democracy, accountability, and justice.”
The party recalled that while campaigning for the governorship in the 2023 elections, Hyacinth Alia had loudly, publicly promised to grant autonomy to the local government tier of administration if voted into office, stressing that all that will be needed to do that is “the will, political will”.
“But since his assumption of office Governor Alia’s approach towards the running of the affairs of the local government councils has been characterized by contempt for one court order after another, all of them upholding the tenure of the councils duly elected into office before he became governor.”
The PDP urged all people of good conscience to rise up and condemn what they described as “gross violation of the sanctity of the Judiciary as represented in the decisions and orders of court which the appointment of caretaker committees represents,” and to stand in solidarity with the duly elected local government council administrations in Benue State saying to allow this brazen impunity by Governor Alia will be to further weaken constitutional democracy.
