Midnight swearing in of LG committee, illegal, PDP accuses Lalong

The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State has condemned the swearing in of the new management committee for the 17 local government areas of the state on Friday at about 9:00 pm saying it was an illegal act to escape litigation.

Even as Governor Simon Lalong through his media adviser, Daniel Manjang said it was constitutional and the time of the swearing in was immaterial.

The State Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr John Agans said the action of the government depicted illegality adding that running the government especially the swearing in at midnight was dangerous for democracy and people of the state.

“Admitting an oath of office at the odd hour of the day is illegal and we are not surprise that the governor chooses the odd hour for such an event. Our findings revealed that it was done to avoid litigation based on the case we filed at the State High Court to stop the swearing in ceremony.”

“He narrated that the PDP in the State had gone to court but something happened along the way and the process was delayed until Friday but to evade any negative action against the swearing in, the governor hurriedly performed the swearing in the night on Friday.”

He said: “The Governor is running away from litigation, we are aware of this, the composition of the management committees is illegal and unconstitutional. We are appealing to the judiciary to come to the aid of Plateau and stop this impunity and others being perpetrated by the governor.”

Responding, the State Governor through his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Daniel Manjang said there was no section of the constitution which said oath of office must be taken at a particular time of the day adding that it was matter of convenience.

“There is no section of the constitution which says it must be done at a particular time, it is a matter of convenience. The timing doesn’t change anything but the action is the most important.”

“This government believes in the rule of law, nothing happened that is outside the confine of the law. We had a situation in this state where a governor pronounced his son as Special Adviser and Commissioner without swearing in and the son assumed office as commissioner even without appearing before the state assembly.”

He advised the PDP in the state to provide credible opposition instead complaining over actions that were taken in the interest of the state.