PDP Rejects Tenure Elongation For FCT Area Council Chairmen, Councilors

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the extension of the tenures of Local Government Chairmen in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Malam Mohammed Bello, FCT Minister, had cancelled the inauguration of winners of the last Local Council election, citing a court order.

Responding to the development, the PDP accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of conniving with certain judicial officers to foist anarchy on the country.

Addressing a press conference at the National headquarters of the party, Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, said, “PDP has been made aware of a bizarre judgment by Hon. Justice Ibrahim Mohammed of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, in suit No. FCT/HC/W/910/2022, wherein he attempted to extend by one year, the tenure of the out-going Chairmen and Councilors of FCT.

“The intent of this judgment is to abridge our electoral process, overthrow the entire outcome of the FCT Area Council election held on Saturday, February 12, 2022 which was overwhelmingly won by candidates of the PDP, halt the swearing in of the newly elected Chairmen and Councilors and impose an undemocratic government in the FCT.

“The PDP vehemently and without equivocation rejects the judgement in its entirety. This judgment cannot be executed as it unconstitutional, illegal, baseless and devoid of any legal foundation and reasoning for implementation.”

The main opposition party also accused the judge of trying to make the law “retroactive to illegally favour the out-going Chairmen and Councilors who were sworn in for a three-year tenure under the 2010 Electoral Act, which tenure, by the provision of that Act, ends on May 20, 2022.”

PDP said the judgment is a deliberate attempt to subvert democracy, a development that can lead to crisis and restiveness and calls on the “people of the FCT to get ready for the swearing in of their new Chairmen and Councilors duly elected on February 12, 2022.”