In what was described as abysmal failure and selfish interest, eight political parties in Delta State have dragged Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to Federal High Court in Asaba to explain his failure to conduct the council’s election and alleged withholding of the council’s funds in the last few years.
In a Suit No. FHC/ASB/CS/23/12 dated February 28th, 2012, a copy made available to newsmen, the defendants which include the Accountant-General of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Revenue Mobilization and Allocation Committee (RMFAC) Delta State Governor, Attorney General of the state including all directors of personnel management in the 25 councils, the plaintiffs are seeking court declaration that the running / administration of local government in the 25 councils in the state in the last few years, is illegal and unconstitutional.
A declaration of the court that the fourth defendant, (Governor of Delta State) act of releasing monetary allocations to the 6th to 28th defendants (DPM) was illegal and unconstitutional.
The plaintiffs are also seeking an order restraining the 1st, and 3rd defendants from further disbursement of fund/allocation to local government councils and DPMs pending the emergence of democratically elected chairmen in all the council’s areas in the state. In the suit the plaintiffs want a court order mandating the governor to conduct election to the local government councils in Delta State with immediate effect.
It was gathered however, that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s refusal to conduct the council’s elections was sequel to the financial cost especially, when the state is reportedly passing through financial trying periods including allegations of non performance and other related acts.
Speaking with newsmen in Asaba, the State Chairman of the Democratic Peoples’ Party (DPP) described Uduaghan’s refusal as mal-administration as well as gross misconduct of the electoral system.
While accusing the governor of “specialized bribe giver”, the DPP chairman said that justice might be long, but the truth would prevail one day.
Political parties that dragged the governor to court include: Congress of Democratic Change (CDC); Labour Party (LP); Justice Party (JP);
Hope Democratic Party (HDP); Citizens Popular Party (CPP); Better Nigerian Peoples’ Party (BNPP) and Liberal Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN).
However, reacting to the allegation of mal-administration, the Governor’s Senior Political Adviser, Chief Ighoyota Amori said the parties’ allegations were cheap blackmail, adding that the governor in the last four years had measured up to the peoples’ expectations.