Governors of the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party under the aegis of PDP Governors Forum on Monday met in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital with a vow to unseat the ruling APC in the 2023 general elections over what it called misrule and bad governance APC has visited on Nigerians.
The governors while expressing concern over the readiness of President Muhammadu Buhari to bequeath to the country a reformed electoral framework urged him to sign into law the Electoral Act Amendment Bill recently transmitted to him by the National Assembly, advising that amendments could be introduced later if there are misgivings over it.
In a communique issued at the end of their meeting presided over by the governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu the PDP governors also applauded the performance of the party at the weekend Area Council election in FCT where the party won three of the six area councils and 43 of the 62 councilorship positions.
While applauding INEC over the improvements recorded, the party noted that the Gwagwalada and Abaji Area Council results show that manipulations are still possible, urging the electoral body to tighten all observed loopholes and further improve on the functioning of the BIVAS Machine for future elections.
The Governors expressed their displeasure on the issue of contaminated Fuel supplied to Nigerians and urged government to bring perpetrators to account.
They also frowned at what they call the duplicity, inconsistency, insincerity of the APC led Federal Government on the fuel subsidy regime, which according to them has been badly and corruptly administered.
PDP Governors Forum allege that the figures of consumption ascribed to Nigerians appear fictitious and bloated, calling for proper investigation on the matter.
The communique further read, “The Forum welcomed the Court decision on Police Trust Fund deductions from the Federation Account, a suit at the instance of Rivers State and urged the Federal Government to stop similar unconstitutional deductions from the Federation Account.
“In the same vein, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission should expedite action on the new Revenue Allocation formula in such a way as to increase allocation to States and Local Government.
“The Forum once again deplored the way and manner the CBN is being run as an alternate government, indeed, a government within a Government. It is time to streamline its functions and processes to be constitutionally compliant.
“The Forum once again decried the opaque nature of NNPC operations. They called for accountability and reconciliation of NNPC remittances into the federation account.
“As the National Assembly winds down this current phase of the Constitution Review exercise, the Forum urged that they revisit the issue of devolution of more powers to the States and Local Governments.
“This opportunity to rejig the framework for policing and securing Nigeria should not be missed. To this end, the Forum would set up a Panel of Consultants to have a thorough look at the security architecture of Nigeria and make recommendations.
“The Governors also urged the National Assembly to transfer some items from the Exclusive Legislative List to Concurrent List.
“The PDP Governors congratulated His Excellency, Governor Douye Diri on his second anniversary in office as he has made a positive difference for the people of Bayelsa State. They thanked him for being such a gracious and wonderful host.”
The meeting had in attendance Governors of Abia, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State who is Vice Chairman of the forum, Gov. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state and the host governor, Gov. Sen. Douye Diri of Bayelsa State.
Others are, Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Gov. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Gov. Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde of Oyo State, Gov. Nyesom Wike, CON of Rivers State.
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