Date: 2017-01-23

The Kwara State chapter of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), has raised the alarm over the purported plans by the state government to extend the tenure of the Transition Implementation Committees (TIC) appointed to oversee the 16 local government councils in the state.

This is coming just as the Governor has said it will only engage in whatever the law permits as regards the issue.

In a press statement signed by the Chairman, Secretary and Publicity Secretary of IPAC, Alhaji AbdulRahman Omotosho, Yinka Adepoju and Comrade AbdulMumini Onagun respectively and made available to National Pilot, the body accused the government of clandestine plans to extend the tenure of TIC chairmen in the state.

IPAC kicked against the alleged plot and called for immediate conduct of local government elections in the state.

Tagged "TIC should not be institutional", IPAC which is an umbrella body for all political parties in Kwara State, said government should focus on keeping democracy flying instead of trying to avoid defeat through unconstitutional means.

According to the statement, "IPAC, the umbrella body of all political parties in Kwara State wish to sound this note of alarm on the recently appointed Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) for the 16 local government councils of the state whose temporary terms may be illegally extended soon.

"Otherwise the KWASIEC should be in preparatory mood for the conduct of the local government election in the state by now. Kwarans would recall that IPAC protested vehemently against the setting up of any caretaker committee under whatever guise to replace the constitutionally elected officers for local government administration as contained in the 1999 constitution as amended.

"We kicked against any such plot because of the dangers inherent in taking an extra-constitutional step of this nature under a democratic dispensation.

"Now that we are getting the insiders signals that state government may extend the tenure for the TIC, we wonder what the reaction of the cohorts who were (earlier) in support of the TIC would be," IPAC added.

It called on all 'lovers of democracy' to rise up and condemn the new move to prevent the state government from institutionalising aberration of democratic practice.

It said the state government cannot give excuse of non availability of funds not to conduct the local government election, but want to embark on the Light Up Kwara project worth several billions of naira, describing it as misplaced priority.

IPAC called on "well meaning people of Kwara State particularly democrats to strongly prevail on the state government to heed the wise counsel and hold the council polls without delay, adding that the good people of the state deserves the best.

Speaking on behalf of the Governor on the issue, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Dr Muideen Akorede told National Pilot last night that his principal will not breach the constitution on the TIC issue.

"Any decision on their tenure will be within the ambit of the law and what its permits," Akorede added.