As the tenure of local government in Enugu State lapses on Dec. 4, the African People Alliance (APA) says the local government election will be acceptable to residents of the state.
The political party also advised the state government not to appoint Transition Committee Chairmen or a group with any other appellation other than democratically elected officers at the councils after Dec. 4.
The Chairman of the party in the state, Mr Chukwunonso Ogbe disclosed this on Sunday in an interview with newsmen in Enugu.
READ ALSO: Enugu LG Chairmen Charged To Execute Quality Projects In Their Councils
Ogbe said that they confounded the party that few days to the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent local government chairmen, the state government had shown no readiness for the election.
The legal practitioner said that the state government had deliberately led the state into an avoidable constitutional quagmire intending to run the councils with handpicked political allies.
“The state government has forced us into a constitutional quagmire, and we must not sit and allow it to use caretaker chairmen to run the third tier of government.
“It is our right to choose our political leaders through a free and fair democratic process as guaranteed under Article 13 of the African Charter,” he said.
Ogbe said that anything short of an outright election would be an infringement on the fundamental rights of residents of the state which he said must not go unchallenged.
On performing the outgoing local government chairmen, the party chairman described it as woeful, adding that the local councils were in pitiable conditions.
He attributed the poor performance of the chairmen to the manner in which they emerged, which he said had tied them to the apron strings of the state government.
”You Can’t Force Us To Donate Land To Herdsmen”-Governors Reply Miyetti Allah
”Most of the local government chairmen emerged through a quasi democratic manner. It is a process that did not truly reflect true democratic principles and that is why they are not independent minded” he said.
Speaking further, he said ”It was only during the administration of former Gov. Chimaroke Nnamani that we had local government chairmen that were truly chosen by their people”.
Post Disclaimer
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author and forum participants on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Anaedo Online or official policies of the Anaedo Online.