Damilola Aina, Abuja
Daily Courier – The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the judgement of a federal high court to suspend the inauguration of the area council chairman and extend by one year, the tenure of the out-going Chairmen and Councilors of FCT Area Councils, which expires tomorrow, Friday, May, 20, 2022.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in a press conference
vehemently and without equivocation rejected the judgement describing it as unconstitutional, illegal, baseless and devoid of any legal foundation and reasoning for implementation.
He described it as a plot by the APC to halt the swearing in of the newly elected Chairmen and Councilors which was overwhelmingly won by candidates of the PDP and impose an undemocratic government in the FCT.
Daily Courier had earlier reported the communication of a judgment by a court in the Federal Capital Territory directing the suspension of the inauguration.
He also warned the ruling party against destroying the rule of law, allow a seamless transfer of power and not overthrow the entire outcome of the FCT Area Council election held on Saturday, February 12, 2022.
Stating it’s reason for outright refusal of the judgement, the national publicity secretary stated that the four years tenure provided for FCT Area Council Chairmen and Councilors in the newly enacted Electoral Act 2022, upon which the judgement is based, cannot be made retroactive to apply to outgoing Chairmen and Councilors who were elected under the 2010 Electoral Act which provided for a three-year tenure commencing from the date of their swearing in.
He said, “Alarmingly, the intent of this judgement by Hon. Justice Ibrahim Mohammed is 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.
“It is instructive to state that the Electoral Act 2022 has a commencement date of February 25, 2022. It is trite in law that laws become effective from their commencement date and cannot be retroactive in effect as being attempted by Hon. Justice Ibrahim Mohammed.”
He also assured that any attempt to scuttle the legal process of power transfer will be met with fierce opposition by the people.
The party therefore urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to protect the integrity of the judiciary by immediately calling Hon. Justice Ibrahim Mohammed to order and not to open themselves to political manipulations.
The PDP also called 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.
Daily Courier reports that the FCT minister Bala Mohammed who is a key figure in the inauguration has accompanied President Buhari to the UAE on a condolence visit.
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