CSO Faults Imposition Of LG Caretaker Executives In Akwa Ibom

A human rights and pro-democracy group, the Centre for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN), has faulted the imposition of caretaker executives to run the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State.

Besides, the civil society organisation (CSO) condemned the State House of Assembly over the resolution it passed on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, authorising the governor, Pastor Umo Eno, to set up transition committees in the 31 LGAs, describing such arrangement as “illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.”

The governor, Pastor Umo Eno, had through a letter with reference number; GHU/AKS/S/104/VOL.1/607, addressed to the assembly speaker, Udeme Otong (Abak), informed the House that there was no provision in the 2023 budget for the conduct of local government elections.”

LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that such exigency informed the assembly to pass a resolution authorising the setting up of interim administration at the 31 local government areas at the expiration of the tenure of the elected council officials on December 6, 2023, which was speedily granted by the lawmakers.

But the CHRAN director dismissed such excuse of funding making it impossible for the polls to be conducted as lame, arguing that the “Bill for a law to amend the Independent Electoral Commission Law (Cap 69) laws of Akwa Ibom state 2022, was a clear violation of section 7 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, (as amended).”