All Progressives Congress, APC in Cross River State says the plan by the state government to set up caretaker committees in the 18 local government areas of the state is unacceptable to it. This is as it argues that it has the capacity to defeat the ruling People’s Democratic party in the state if the elections are held.
In a statement jointly endorsed by the state Acting Chairman,Sir John Ochala and the National Vice Chairman, South South of APC, Ntufam Hilliard Eta, the party stated that it insist on the conduct of the local government elections which is due later this year in the state.
The party chieftains were quoted as alleging that the state Governor, Senator Ben Ayade was on the verge of setting up caretaker committees to run the councils instead of conducting elections. Ochala said “our intelligence reports have it that the state governor does not want to conduct local government polls as at when due and off course we have put into motion some strategies within the ambit of the law to check mate such moves”. He said, the party will move to puncture the existence of the caretaker committees
“If our suspicion is confirmed then Ayade will meet us at the appropriate point. In Cross River State we will not accept care taker appointments in councils, we will go for elections,”he maintained.
Also speaking on the same matter, the National Vice Chairman of the APC, Ntufam Hilliard Eta said the PSP was scared of the rising profile of the APC hence the plan to resort to caretaker committees as against the conduct of elections. According to Eta “We suspect that because of the rising profile of the APC in Cross River State, the governor is scared to his wits end on how to conduct elections. As I speak to you, if election is conducted today, APC will defeat Ayade even in his Obudu local government area.”
The APC chieftain furthered “We are prepared for the elections: so let the PDP put their popularity to the test by conducting local government elections. “
He maintained “I personally will like the Supreme Court to make pronouncement on this issue of local government caretaker committees because the constitution talks about elections clearly. It talks about elected local government.”
“I think that the Supreme Court should make a law, or make a pronouncement that the resources of Nigeria should not go to any local government with unelected administration. According Eta,”the Supreme Court should assert itself by making pronouncement in matters of that nature.
We have copied presidential system of government from the United States but refused to copy parts that could help us more.ln America, the Supreme Court has amended the constitution so many times without going through the legislature.”
The two APC chieftains also blamed Governor Ayade for the heightening insecurity in the state adding that there was complete absence of governance in the state that the criminal gangs have taken advantage of.
SIGNED
John Ochala,
Ag. Chairman APC CRS;
Ntufam Hillard Eta
National Vice Chairman APC South South