The Peoples Democratic Party has appointed executives whose tenure has expired as caretaker committees for their respective states, local governments, and wards.
Recall that National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, during a meeting of the National Working Committee with state chairmen on Tuesday hinted that party leadership will review the tenure of 26 state chairmen, whose tenures had expired.
He stated, “We are here to review the tenure of about 26 state chairmen, in terms of ward, local government and state. If you recall most of the current executives in the states were elected four years ago, where congresses were conducted on a staggered basis due to the COVID-19 issues.
“We have about four or five states that their tenures have expired from the ward to the state, that is Edo, Bayelsa, Gombe and Rivers states. There are others that are staggered. So, in order not to create a vacuum or go into a crisis that is why we have called this meeting.”
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on Friday, the PDP stated that the caretaker committees formed in 21 states will oversee the party’s affairs at their respective levels for a period of three months.
The statement read in part “The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, pursuant to the provisions of Section 29 (2) (b) of the Constitution of our party on behalf of the National Executive Committee, approved the appointment of the executives whose tenures have expired in some state, local government and ward chapters to serve as caretaker committees in the affected states, LGAs and wards respectively.
“The caretaker committees have been mandated to run the affairs of our party at their appropriate levels for a period of three months.”
The caretaker committee in Abia State and its local government will take effect from March 22, 2024, while at the ward level, it will take effect from March 15, 2024.
For Akwa Ibom State Local Government Areas, it will take effect from March 21, 2024, and at the ward level, it will take effect from March 7, 2024.
In Bauchi State, the local government caretaker committee will take effect from March 22, 2024, and at the ward level, it will take effect from March 14, 2024.
For Bayelsa State, it will take effect from March 23, 2024, at the local government level, and from March 21, 2024, at the ward level.
In Benue State, the caretaker committee will take effect from March 21, 2024, at the ward level, and from March 7, 2024.
Similarly, in Cross River State, it will commence from March 21, 2024, at the ward level, and from March 7, 2024.
The caretaker committee in Delta State will take effect from March 21, 2024, at both the state and ward levels, with effect from March 7, 2024.
It stated, “Ekiti – Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024. Enugu – LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 14, 2024. Gombe State: With effect from March 23, 2024; LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 14, 2024.
“Imo LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 14, 2024. And Jigawa Ward: With effect from March 16, 2024. Kaduna Ward: With effect from March 14, 2024.
“Niger – Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024. And Ondo LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024. Then Plateau – LGA: With effect from March 23, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024.”
According to the statement, the caretaker committee in Rivers State will take effect from March 21, 2024; at the local government level, it will take effect from March 18, 2024, and at the ward level, it will take effect from March 14, 2024.
On the other hand, the caretaker committee in Sokoto Ward will take effect from March 16, 2024.
The caretaker committee in Taraba Ward is slated to take effect from March 14, 2024. Meanwhile, in the Federal Capital Territory, at the local government level, it will take effect from March 21, 2024, and at the ward level, it will take effect from March 7, 2024.
The statement read in part “The NWC states that in situations where vacancies occurred in the respective Excos due to death, defection, and/or resignation, no replacement should be effected for such vacancies in the Caretakers Committees.
“The NWC charges all leaders, critical stakeholders and members of our great Party to continue to work together to ensure the stability, growth and success of our Party in their respective States, Local Government Areas and Wards.”