A political organisation comprising concerned stakeholders within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara state, operating under the name Kwara Progressive Development Movement (KPDM), has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and protect local government administration in the state from imminent destruction.
During a press conference in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara state, on Wednesday, the national coordinator of the group, Alhaji Mohammad Mariam Alhassan, accompanied by other party stalwarts, expressed concern that governance at the local government level in the state has been controlled by a few individuals through the Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) arrangement.
The group urged President Tinubu to dissolve the allegedly illegally constituted TIC arrangement, implemented by the Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq-led administration for over four years.
They argued that this arrangement contradicts Section 7(1) and Section 14(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, which specifies a three-year tenure for duly elected Executive Council members.
Additionally, the organization requested the President to instruct the Federal and Fiscal Mobilization Commission to withhold the monthly statutory revenue allocations to all 16 local government areas in Kwara state until constitutionally and democratically elected council executives are in place.
The KPDM asserted that the current TIC arrangement is inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
They further called for an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into the financial transactions of all TIC leaderships since inception, aiming to promote institutional transparency, financial accountability, and strengthen democratic ethics.
The group emphasised the need for the President to address their concerns promptly and impartially, citing his demonstrated commitment to effective Local Government Areas administration during his tenure as the Governor of Lagos state.
They expressed confidence that President Tinubu would attentively consider their grievances and take necessary actions to rectify the situation.
The KPDM highlighted the historical significance of Local Government Areas administration in Nigeria, established in 1976 to bring development closer to the grassroots.
Unfortunately, they lamented that the people’s hope for collective participation in governance and improvement in socio-economic life has been thwarted by the allegedly illegal and unconstitutional TIC arrangements enforced by the Abdulrazaq-led administration over the past four years.
The organization criticized the maladministration and poor political leadership observed during the TIC’s existence, noting a lack of significant development despite increased resources from the federation account.
They concluded that governance at the local government level has been concentrated in the hands of a select few individuals with little experience, rather than the people-oriented leadership promised during the renewed hope for change.