Benue: PDP claims Gov. Alia violated law by forming LG caretaker committees

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia of weakening the rule of law by appointing caretaker committees for local government units in the state.

The PDP claims that the action lacks legal support and has called into doubt the governor’s commitment to the promised autonomy for local government management.

According to the Benue PDP, caretaker committees were appointed for all 23 local government councils without the necessary enabling law from the Benue State House of Assembly, as stated in a statement signed by Chief Bemgba Iortyom (Vande-U-Mbaiwer), the party’s state publicity secretary.
The PDP claims that the committee heads violated due process by evading the legislature’s required scrutiny.

PDP claimed that Alia’s actions are a direct contradiction to his pledges made during the 2023 campaign to provide local government more power.

Nonetheless, PDP claims that the governor’s handling of local government matters since taking office has been characterized by the disobedience of several court rulings that uphold the terms of previously elected councils.

Read Also: Imo LP candidate raises alarm, accuses INEC of impeding party’s efforts to inspect BVAS.

Reminding the people that 23 council chairmen were chosen based on the party platform in the April 30, 2022 local council elections, the PDP said that their sworn terms will end on June 28, 2024.

Alia allegedly formed a committee that promptly recommended the suspension of the councils and their chairmen, in violation of court rulings, including one rendered by Hon. Justice (Dr.) I. J. Essien that specifically forbade the dissolution of elected councils.

Iortyom claimed that these acts pose legal and democratic issues since they flagrantly disobey current court orders.

He charged that the governor was acting hypocritically and that his pledge of autonomy was a ruse to win support in the next elections.

As a result, the PDP urged the governor to obey the law, rescind the creation of caretaker committees, and preserve democratic values in the state.