Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi says the All Progressives Congress (APC) caretaker arrangement is not illegal and unconstitutional.

Francis Nwaze, the governor’s media aide in Abakaliki, in a statement, said Mr Umahi made this known while assessing the just concluded APC ward congresses across the 171 electoral wards in the state.

Mr Umahi noted that the caretaker arrangement was in line with the party’s constitution.

He pointed out that the arrangement did not either violate any section of the party’s constitution or the 1999 Constitution as amended.

The governor stated, ”When that opinion was expressed, I had to go through the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the constitution of the party.

“A section of the party’s constitution empowers the National Executive Committee to set up a caretaker committee, and this caretaker committee is to do the job of any of the organs of the party where there is vacancy or vacancies.”

He described the ward congresses held on July 31 as peaceful with a massive turnout of the party faithful.

Mr Umahi monitored the congress at some centres in Afikpo South local government area while on inspection at the ongoing construction of a 30-span flyover at Ugwu-Iyere, Ekoli-Edda in Afikpo South LGA of Ebonyi.

The governor further noted that the consensus arrangement was being demonstrated in the field through massive mobilisation and voting.

“The congress yesterday was very wonderful, very peaceful. The consensus arrangement was demonstrated on the field by way of massive mobilisation, and the election was very impressive,” he said.

Speaking on the ongoing construction of the Iyere 30-span- flyover, Mr Umahi said, ”It will be inaugurated by December 2021, and it will become the fastest completed project in the state. Admittedly, it is quite challenging, but with determination, we decided to do this.

“An average of 30 people die on this road every year, so, we are doing this to reduce a slope of 45 per cent to a slope of seven per cent through a flyover, and I hope to save lives, and that’s what we are set to do in Ebonyi.”

(NAN)