ILORIN, JULY 18, 2016 – The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday said it would resist any attempt by the state government to appoint local government caretaker committees.Mr Iyiola Oyedepo, the PDP chairman in the state said the party the party would press for the conduct of elections at the end of the tenure of the current local council officials in October.
The chairman said in Ilorin that that it was imperative for the State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) to commence preparations for the conduct of the elections.
The tenure of chairmen and councillors in 15 local governments will expire by October this year while that of Offa Local Government had expired three months ago.
According to him, the commission ought to have by now, issued notice of elections in all the 16 local governments for interested parties to start preparations.
Oyedepo said by law, the state electoral body should give four months notice for the election.
“If the local government election is to hold by October this year, KWSIEC ought to have given out notice for the election by June.
“Statutorily, elected chairmen and councillors in the state have three year tenure and that tenure will expire by October 26, 2016,” Oyedapo added.
The chairman said that the PDP would “do everything within the law” to stop the elongation of the tenure of the current local council officials, or appointment of caretaker committees.
“We will force the ruling party to conduct local government elections this year, I know that they are afraid of facing the electorate, they have no choice, we will make them conduct the election.
“KWSIEC should conduct election in the local governments, even if the ruling APC will rig the election, we want the election to hold,” he said.
The chairman, therefore, urged all PDP members and supporters to be united and regard the coming local government elections as a collective project.
