From Shuaibu Zubair Tatu, Birnin Kebbi
The Birnin Kebbi-Kebbi State branch of the Inter Party Advisory Council IPAC, has rejected the appointment of the 21 local councils sole administrators in Kebbi state.
The delegation, led by the state Chairman,Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammed on a advocacy visit to the leadership of Kebbi state house of assembly yesterday, demanded explanation from the law makers as to why instead of conducting local governments elections at the expiration of two years tenure of elected chairmen but the state appointed sole administrators.
He contended that such actions are injurious to democratic settings and a flagrant denials of the opposition parties existing in the state to participate in elections at the end of every two year tenure of elected chairmen.
While, describing political parties as ingredients of democracy he chided the the government over her refusal to conduct local councils polls as required by the law “we vehemently rejects the appointment of local councils sole administrators in Kebbi state.”
He added that, towards the end of their tenure IPAC engaged state electoral body KSIEC on their level of preparations for local councils elections but their response was the state government was yet to respond to the request sent to them requesting for funds and permission to conduct polls he said.
The IPAC chief,who expressed dissatisfaction with the law which permits the state governors to appoint local governments sole administrators described it as anti people and morally improper for governors to rely on the law to refuse to conduct elections saying elongated political tenure may trigger chaos as seen in one African country recently.
Responding, the Kebbi state speaker, Muhammadu Usman Zuru, said that the state government acted within the ambit of the law citing 2018, law which permits the state governors to appoint sole administrators in event where the state electoral body is not prepared for elections.
According to him, the tenure duration is three months and renewable after expiration subject to approval of the house, adding the law also allow for extension up to a year , he said the present crop of leaders and members of the house have been guiding the state government on legitimate ways of doing things as permitted by the law hence the reason the reason there is no rancour between legislators and the executives
Zuru told IPAC delegations that the law is not yet amended but is subject to review in order to meet public demands which will be subjected to public opinion and contributions when the time comes.IPAC
