THE composition of Council Caretaker Committees by the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, to replace council chairmen and their councilors, whose tenure recently expired, is gradually heating up the already tensed polity.
His action, seems to justify claims by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that Amaech does not want to conduct council poll in order to avoid losing to his former party.
Elected officials in 21 of the 23 local governments were dissolved, except those of Degema and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government. The state commissioner for information, Ibim Seminatari who justified this, told The Guardian that the tenure of the elective officials in the two council areas is yet to expire, because they were elected at different times.
It would be recalled that the last council election was conducted on May 21, 2011, while the elected officers were sworn into office on June 2, 2011.
Prior to the expiration of their tenure, The Guardian learnt that there was no sign that fresh elections will be conducted. There was a lull in activities, coupled with the emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
While the main opposition, PDP, and other political parties described the governor’s action as unconstitutional, residents of the state, see it as an attempt to deprive them of their constitutional right to elect new council officials.
In a statement signed by Media Aide to the State PDP Chairman, Jerry Needam, the party said the main reason for Amaechi’s action was the fear of losing the local government areas to his former party, PDP, which is not only increasing in size but waxing stronger by the day.
The spokesman of the Forum of Registered Political Parties, Bisi Odota, who spoke on behalf of some 22 political parties, gave a 30-day ultimatum to RSIEC, to commence the process of conducting the election in the 21 local government areas or resign their appointment.
They claimed that they were ready for elections and urged the governor to direct the electoral body to conduct election within 30 days, as stipulated by law.
The forum made reference to section 7 (1) of the 1999 constitution as amended, which they said recognised the democratisation of all local government areas in Nigeria.
The Guardian investigations revealed that Amaechi’s refusal to conduct the election, was not only borne out of fear of losing the councils to the PDP, he was also said to be suspicious of all his political aides who may be on his side for what they are getting from him at the moment, but may not deliver in the heat of serious political contest like the council election.
Observers claimed that most of the deciding councils in the state like Obio/Akpor, the councils from the Kalabari and the Ogoni axis are predominantly PDP, without which the APC cannot make appreciable impact.
Attempts to speak with the state chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Mr. Chimbiko Akarolo on the setting up of caretaker committees did not yield result.
The information commissioner, Seminatari, who faulted allegations against government, said the governor installed the caretaker officials for continuation of governance, because it would be difficult for government to immediately conduct any election after the tenure expired.
She noted that the caretaker committees were installed for the time being, for RSIEC to make preparations for the conduct of the poll, saying it is within the ambit of the governor to take such step.
Seminatari noted that Amaechi is not afraid of the PDP as said, because APC is on top of the game in the state, adding that PDP has been scattered and has no structure to threaten the governor’s new party. Guardian ng
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