UPP, HDP flay appointment of LG transition committees in Anambra

Two political parties have condemned the appointment of caretaker committees into the 21 local government councils and 326 electoral wards in Anambra by Gov. Willie Obiano.

The parties, United Progressives Party (UPP) and Hope Democratic Party (HDP), gave their condemnation of the appointments in interviews with our correspondent on Friday in Awka.

Our correspondent reports that Obiano appointed the transition committees and councillors on March 29, to take over the affairs at the councils which has been run by the Head of Services at the various councils for a while now.

The Chairman of UPP in Anambra, Dr Evans Igwilo, told NAN that the appointments were not in the spirit of the constitution of Nigeria.

Igwilo said he did not know what could have informed the appointment of caretaker committees just when the Anambra governorship election was around the corner.

He wondered why Obiano who is a product of democratic election would not allow elections to be conducted in the councils.

“Gov. Obiano has not done the right thing in this matter; I do not know what he is afraid of or wants to gain by appointing caretaker chairmen for the councils.

“Unfortunately, these are some of the negative indices that will work against him because the people of Anambra have been yearning for this election.

“The UPP condemns these appointments and call for elections, this is a product of bad advisers, if the Federal Government decides to appoint caretaker committees in the state, Obiano could not have been a governor,’’ he said.

Also, Sam Oragbunam, Chairman of Hope Democratic Party (HDP), described the appointments of the caretaker committee’s members by Obiano as sign of desperation for second term.

Oragbunam said the refusal of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) led government in Anambra conduct polls at the council was because of the allocation accruing to them.

“I see these appointments as desperation for second term but it will actually work against them.

“The appointment and swearing in was done in the night; so, it shows that APGA believes that the appointments will be necessary to deliver the governor for a second term in office.

“It is all to the detriment of democracy and the people, the party in power in Anambra has abused the trust and confidence bestowed on them, successively they have not showed willingness to conduct elections.

“Although Obiano sent a list of nominees for the Anambra State Election Commission board, the election itself was not provided for in the budget, so they are not just ready for it because of the money accruing to the councils,’’ he said.

But defending the appointments, Chief Jude Emecheta, an APGA chieftain, hailed Obiano for ensuring that quality people were at the councils to pilot their affairs pending when elections were conducted.

Emecheta who is the National Chairman of Obiano Support Group (OSG), dismissed the notion of the opposition that the governor was not keen in conducting elections at the councils.

He noted that part of the evidence was the list of ANSIEC board members he sent to the House of Assembly for confirmation, assuring that the elections would still hold.

He, however, decried the litigations that have trailed the membership list, urging the litigants to withdraw their suits to enable the House screen and approve the board members.

“I must commend Obiano for appointing the caretaker committees; the councils must be run and it is not true that APGA or the governor does not want or are afraid of election.

“The list of ANSIEC board members before the House is a matter in the courts and this not healthy, let those people withdraw the suit and allow the process to go on because they are credible nominees.’’

The Acting Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in the state, Mrs Oby Okafor, said she was not in the state when the appointments were made.

Okafor, who is also the chairman of Advanced Congress for Democrats (ACD), said IPAC would not make a statement on the matter until they meet to discuss it.

She said the appointment could be because there was no budget for elections in the 2017 appropriation bill and expressed the hope that the council elections could still hold before the governorship.

According to her, the local governments will not be devoid of leadership, some people must be there while waiting for election.

“Local government election is good, we want it, but the election is not in the budget, if it was contained in the budget and the government did not do it, we would have started agitating,’’ she said.

Contacted, the Chairman of APGA in Anambra, Chief Norbert Obi, declined comment, saying he was at a burial ceremony.

It was reported that Anambra has been without elected council officials since January 2016.