A civil society organization, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), has called on Governor Usman Ododo to put machinery in place for the conduct of local government elections in Kogi state without further delay.
In a statement issued by the Executive Director of CHRCR, Comrade Idris Miliki Abdul, in Lokoja on Friday, the CSO called on Kogi State Governor to reverse the illegal extension of the tenure of caretaker committees of Local Government Councils as pronounced by State Assembly on Friday 5th July, 2024 and replace them with the Directors of Local Government across the state.
Miliki noted that the Supreme Court Judgment stated clearly that appointment of caretaker committees is illegal and unconstitutional; adding that no governor has any powers to appoint any Caretaker Committee Chairman (CTC).
He recommended that for the purpose of payment of salary and security, the state government should continue to make money available in form of loan to the local government councils pending when democratically elected officials are inaugurated.
“It will be recalled that the tenure of last democratically elected Local Government Council officials in Kogi State ended on the 14th December 2023 and caretaker committees were illegally imposed by the immediate past administration on the 9th January, 2024. Subsequently and tragically, the current administration in Kogi State, in collaboration with Kogi State House of Assembly, extended the tenure of the Local Government Council Caretaker Chairmen perpetrating illegality in the face of legitimacy. We are worried about the situation that will befall the Local Government staff and the security situation at local government level in Kogi State.
“With the supplementary budget approved by the State Assembly on the 5th of July, 2024, the Kogi Governor and its government can no longer claim it has no funds to conduct Local Government elections,” he said.
Speaking on the apex court verdict, Miliki noted that “Aside ruling that allocations are to be paid directly to local government Councils immediately, the Supreme Court judgment on 11th July, 2024 also deleted the Section of the Constitution for joint allocations automatically without NASS Amendment.
“The pronouncement by the supreme court has vindicated us in Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR) as we have consistently advocated and will continue to advocate for democratic dispensation at Local Government level.
“State governors have constituted themselves as dangerous species to the development of democracy.”
He commended the Supreme Court for the laudable and historical judgment.
