Kwara PDP kicks as Gov Abdulrazaq sacks 16 LG chairmen

The Peoples Democratic Party in Kwara State Tuesday kicked against the sacking of the 16 Local Government Councils chairmen by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

Abdulrazaq took the decision few hours after the state House of Assembly recommended their sack pending completion of investigation against them.

In a statement signed by the party’s state chairman, Engr Kola Shittu, the party demanded its retraction, describing the move by the legislature as illegal and undemocratic.

He said it was wrong for the House to recommend the suspension of the councils bosses on allegation of financial misappropriation when they hadn’t been properly investigated or invited for questioning.

The PDP chairman said” it should be noted that neither the House nor the governor has the power to suspend the council chairmen who were lawfully elected by their people.

“The council chairmen were lawfully elected in 2017 by the people for a three-year tenure, which will expire in 2020.

“Neither the governor nor the state Assembly has the power to suspend or sack them before the expiration of their administration.

“We wish to remind the lawmakers of a subsisting court order barring the state governor or any of his representatives, including the state House of Assembly from suspending or dissolving elected local government chairmen or interfere in their financial activities until the lawful expiration of their tenure in 2020.

“It is also instructive to note that the Supreme Court had also declared as illegal and unconstitutional the dissolution of local government councils by state governors and state Assemblies,” the statement added.