Politics
Reps unveil plans to halt federal allocation to LG councils not governed by elected chairmen
The House of Representatives on Tuesday unveiled plans to withhold forthwith local government allocation for Local Government Councils across the country being governed by officials not elected democratically.
The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion on the urgent need to address the refusal of State Governments to uphold democratic principles in the Local Government and the financial impropriety of unelected Local Government officials, sponsored by Hon. Ademorin Kuye.
To this end, the House mandates the joint Committees on Finance, Revenue Mobilization and Allocation (RMAFC) to withhold local government allocation for Local Government run by officials not elected democratically.
In the alternative, the House directed RMFAC to create a special account into which such monies will be paid until democratically elected representatives are put in place by such state governments.
The lawmakers also mandated the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (oAuGF) to institute legal action against any state that terminates the unexpired tenure of local government administration and direct RMFAC to withhold allocations due to such Local Government.
Hence, the House mandated its Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance of same
Speaking earlier on the intent of the motions Hon. Kuye frowned at the State Governors’ flagrant disregard to the provisions of Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which guarantees the system of local government run by democratically elected officials and prescribed that state government should ensure their existence.
“The House is aware also that by virtue of section 8 of the 1999 constitution as amended, mandates the State House of Assembly to make laws for the establishment, tenure, structure, composition, finance and functions of these councils stipulated by the constitution.
“The House is further aware that the local government, as envisaged by the constitution, is the most important tier of government as it is the closest to the people and the obvious foundation of both the subnational and the federal government.
“The House is informed that in December 2023 the Senate adopted a resolution to stop allocation to some States after debate on a motion sponsored by the Senate Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro on the urgent need to halt the erosion of democracy, as more Senators urge the extension of sanctions to other States that have usurped and upended democratically elected council officials and had installed unelected caretaker executives.
“The House is concerned that the dissolution of democratically elected council officials is in direct contravention of section 7 of the Nigerian Constitution, The supreme court pronouncement on such matters and a deliberate affront on democracy.
Worried is the increasing number of States acting with such impunity and constitutional disregard as about 21 State Governors are currently running Councils with Caretaker Committees.
“The House is dismayed that this impunity and constitution disregard is a deliberate effort to upstage democracy, shrink the development potential of Local Councils, enshrine lack of accountability and limit transparency in Local Governments and the state as a whole.” (tribune)
Politics
11 political parties to participate in Zamfara LG polls — IPAC
The Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Zamfara State Chapter, says 11 out of the 18 registered political parties in the state will participate in the November 16 local government elections in the state.
The state IPAC chairman, Alhaji Isah Moriki, disclosed this at a press briefing in Gusau on Tuesday.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, which is the major opposition party in the state, had dragged the Zamfara State Independent Electoral Commission, ZASIEC, to the Federal High Court Gusau over alleged irregularities in the election process.
Moriki, who is also the state chairman, National Rescue Movement, NRM, said 11 out of the 18 political parties under the umbrella of IPAC have concluded plans to participate in the elections.
“Recently, we held a meeting with the ZASIEC, the commission’s chairman briefed us on their arrangements to conduct the LG polls on November 16.
“The Commission promised to conduct credible LG elections in the state.
“Therefore, the IPAC leadership is satisfied with all the necessary arrangements by the commission to conduct LG election in the state.
“We agree that the commission has fulfilled all the requirements of the law to conduct the LG election,” he said.
According to him, the political parties include the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) Social Democratic Party Party (SDP) National Rescue Movement (NRM), Young Progressive Party (YPP) Alliance Peoples Movement (APM) and All Peoples Party (APP).
Other political parties, he said, are African Action Congress (AAC) Labour Party (LP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Youth Party (YP).
Politics
Ondo guber: We are fully ready — INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has restated its readiness to conduct free and fair governorship election in Ondo State on November 16.
The Chairman of the Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu made this known during his readiness assessment visit to INEC Local Government Area offices in Ondo State on Tuesday.
Yakubu, who physically visited some of the Commission’s local government area offices, said that all the non-sensitive materials were already at the LG offices.
“In terms of the level of preparation so far, I am really impressed by what the state and local government offices have achieved.
“What remains is the sensitive materials which will arrive on Tuesday next week.
“On Wednesday, there will be inspection of sensitive materials by all parties, candidates, observers, the media, security agencies and officials of the Commission.
“Then on Thursday, we will commence the movement of the materials to LGAs. And then, there will be the same inspection at the LGA levels before we move the materials to the wards on Friday,” he said.
According to the INEC boss, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, machine had been charged and configured, explaining that they would be deployed along with the sensitive materials to the local government areas.
He, therefore, promised to continue improving on the Commission’s activities, and said that life jackets would be deployed to all officials going to riverine areas of the state.
“For those going to riverine areas, We have also devised the means of ramping the materials in case anything happens, the materials will float on the river and we pick them up.
“We place premium on the security of our own officials, either adhoc or regular as well as the security personnel who will accompany the election materials.
“Not only the riverine in Ondo State, but all the riverine area nationwide, all officials will be provided life jackets. This is part of our preparation,” he said.
Politics
Edo: Court summons Omobayo over alleged refusal to vacate deputy governorship position
A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, ordered Godwins Omobayo, the embattled Deputy Governor of Edo, to appear in person before it on Nov. 26 over his alleged disobedience to court judgment.
Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling, held that the order was to give Omobayo, the alleged contemnor, a fair hearing and the opportunity to defend himself in line with Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo, Philip Shaibu, had filed the contempt charge for Omobayo to be committed to prison over his alleged refusal to vacate the deputy governorship position after a valid court judgment.
Justice Omotosho had, on July 17, voided the impeachment of Shaibu as the deputy governor of Edo by the house of assembly.
The judge, in the judgment, ordered his reinstatement to office on the grounds that the Edo House of Assembly failed to comply with due process in the purported impeachment.
The judge also held that the allegation on which the assembly based the impeachment proceedings was untenable in law and did not constitute a gross misconduct.
The judgment was on the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/478/2024 with Shuaibu as the plaintiff.
The reinstated deputy governor had sued the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Deputy Governor of Edo, the AG, Chief Judge of Edo, Speaker of Edo House of Assembly and the Edo State House of Assembly as 1st to 6th defendants respectively.
Omobayo was, on April 8, sworn in as the new deputy governor after Shaibu’s impeachment by the state’s house of assembly.
NAN reports that the judge had, on Oct. 24, fixed today for the hearing of the matter.
ustice Omotosho rescheduled the date after the court granted Shaibu’s motion ex-parte seeking for an order for a substituted service of Form 49 on Omobayo.
On the last adjourned date, Ini-obong Ebiekpi, who appeared for Shaibu, had informed the court that the matter was fixed for hearing.
Ebiekpi said that though Omobayo, who is the 2nd defendant in the charge, was served with Form 48, they had been unable to serve him with Form 49.
The lawyer said it was on this ground that a motion ex-parte was filed for a substituted service of the Form 49 on Omobayo.
Justice Omotosho consequently granted the motion and adjourned the matter until Nov. 4 for hearing.
When the matter was called on Monday, Ayotunde Ogunleye, SAN, appeared for Shaibu, who was also in court in person.
While Olusegun Jolaawo, SAN, represented the Edo House of Assembly (6th defendant), F.N Ogbe appeared for the Edo Chief Judge (4th defendant).
However, Omobayo was not represented in court and neither was he in court as well.
Besides, there was no representation for the.1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th defendants.
Ogunleye, therefore, made an oral application that the court should direct Omobayo to appear in person as order of court cannot continue to be treated with disregard.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter until Nov. 26 for hearing.
He also ordered that hearing notices be issued to the.1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th defendants in the charge.
“In the interest of justice, and to give the alleged contemnor the opportunity to defend himself and fair hearing in line with Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the alleged contemnor is hereby ordered to be in court in person on 26th day of November, 2024, being the next adjourned date,” the judge ruled.
NAN observes that the current state government’s tenure would be coming to an end on Nov. 12.
(NAN)
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