The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has rejected what it called a bizarre judgement which attempts to extend by one year, the tenure of the out-going Chairmen and Councilors of Federal Capital Territory Area Councils, which expires tomorrow, Friday, May, 20, 2022.
Briefing newsmen at the party’s headquarters in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary, Mr Dabo Ologunagba said the clear intent of this judgment was to abridge the 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.
He said “the PDP vehemently and without equivocation rejects the judgement in its entirety. This judgment cannot be executed as it is unconstitutional, illegal, baseless and devoid of any legal foundation and reasoning for implementation.
“This is because 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”said the National Publicity Secretary.
“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″.
(Credit: VON)
