Rivers PDP Condemns Extension Of Tenure Of The Unlawfully Constituted Obio/Akpor Caretaker Committee

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Rivers State Chapter has reiterated its disapproval of the creation of a Caretaker Committee and the recent extension of its life span by another three months by the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi.

The Party today in a statement issued in Port Harcourt through its Special Adviser on Media to the State Chairman, Jerry Needam said while the coming into being of the Committee remains an issue considered an irresponsible act which is being challenged in the law court, the Governor still went ahead to extend the tenure of the already faulted Committee thereby worsening an already bad situation.

The Party believes that by taking such action, the Governor has demonstrably shown that he has no respect for the court and the rule of law and would stop at nothing in taking actions so long such actions well protect his ambition even though it jeopardizes they collective interest of the masses.

The State PDP noted that under the provisions of section 64 (4) of the Rivers State Local Government Law of 2012, neither the National Assembly, State Assembly nor the Governor of the State can either extend, replace or reappoint the Caretaker Committee of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council or appoint a new Caretaker Committee member on the expiration of the statutory Ninety (90) days life span granted to the caretaker committee by the Rivers State Government Law (2012); and staying in office beyond the period allowed under the Law is illegal.

'It is therefore the party's view that the continued stay in office of the CTC of Obio/Akpor Council is illegal, a waste of the council's resources and is detrimental to the overall interest of the good people of the area.

'It is our observation that the continued stay in office of members of the CTC has allowed room for them and even their spouses to be spending council's resources on frivolities that have little or no bearing on the lives of the people of Obio/Akpor', the party said.

The party therefore, on the strength of this, commended and identified with a group of concerned and patriotic citizens of Obio/Akpor extraction who have courageously challenged the Caretaker Committee's stay in office for a period exceeding three (3) months from the date of its inauguration, pursuant to section 64 (4) of the Rivers State Local Council Law of 2012.

Apart from seeking the court to declare that the extension of the life span of the CTC is illegal, the Party, with the support of the group, also called on the court to declare the suspension of the democratically elected Chairman, Vice Chairman and the 17 councilors representing the 17 wards of the area illegal and amounts to a violation of section 64 (2) of the Rivers State Local Government Law of 2012 and therefore, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

The Party believes that time is of essence in this case as urgent and timely action by the court will restrain the State Governor and members of the Caretaker Committee from further wastage of the resources of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council and also prevent the breakdown of law and order in the area.

Jerry Needam
SA, Media to
State PDP Chairman