APC crisis: Tinubu’s loyalists in court, seek Buni’s sack, ward, LG congresses’ nullification3 min read

THE crises trailing the ward and local government congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) worsened at the weekend, as loyalists of a national leader of the party, Chief Bola Tinubu sought the nullification of the entire exercise by a Federal High Court sitting in Ekiti State.

They also sought the sacking of Yobe State governor and Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Mai Mala Buni.

This is coming amid frantic moves by Buni, on Sunday, to calm frayed nerves in the party, following the fresh round of anger triggered by last Saturday’s local government congress across the country.

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Continue Reading: APC crisis: Tinubu’s loyalists in court, seek Buni’s sack, ward, LG congresses’ nullification

The governor assured aggrieved chieftains of the party, not comfortable with the outcome of congress, of amicable resolutions of the crises exacerbated by the conduct of parallel congresses in some state chapters.

The governor, in a statement by his director general, Press and Media Affairs, Mamman Mohammed, said the party had instituted internal mechanisms to address differences and grievances arising from the congress.

He promised that the party would be transparent, just and fair to anybody or group of persons with complaints that are forwarded to the party.

He said: “The doors of reconciliation are always open in the party to build a strong and united APC. We should therefore explore and exploit the opportunities available to settle all differences.

“I am highly elated that we are progressing at every stage of the congress, l am optimistic that the party will at the end of the congresses produce a generally acceptable and credible leadership that will build on the successes recorded for a strong, united and a winning APC.”

Aggrieved APC members, loyal to Tinubu, approached the Federal High Court to declare as illegal and unconstitutional, all actions taken under Buni as the chairman of the party.

In the suit marked FHC/AD/CS/21/2021 filed at the Ado-Ekiti division of the court, the members, under the auspices of the South-West Agenda for Asiwaju 2023 (SWAGA), sought an injunction declaring the outcomes of the July 31 ward congress and the September 4 local government congress unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

The suit deposed to by 36 SWAGA members and contestants in the ward congress on behalf of over 3,650 members of the group in Ekiti, was filed by their Lawyers, Barrister Ayodeji Odu and five others for the plaintiffs.

Joined in the suit are, APC (1st defendant); Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Governor Mai Mala Buni (2nd defendant); Ekiti APC chairman, Paul Omotoso (3rd defendant), Chairman, Ekiti Congress Screening Committee, Samuel Abejide (4th defendant) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (5th defendant).

They also prayed the court, “a declaration that no congress was held in Ekiti-State chapter of the 1st defendant as no result has been declared in respect of the congress as at the date of filling this case.

“A declaration that the 2nd defendant cannot hold the position of Chairman, Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Committee of the 1st defendant as such appointment/role is a constitutional violation of section 187 of the 1999 Constitution as amended and article 8 of the 1st defendant’s constitution.

A declaration that all actions or steps taken by the 1st defendant under the control, supervision, direction of the so called caretaker Extraordinary convention planning committee of APC, headed by the 2nd defendant, including the conduct of ward congresses across Nigeria and Ekiti State on 31st July, 2021 was illegal and unconstitutional on the ground that the 2nd defendant under whose such steps or actions were taken was ineligible to superintend over1st defendant party affairs while still serving in office as a governor.”

The plaintiffs also sought an injunction restraining the 1st and 3rd defendants from conducting any further congresses in Ekiti State pending the determination of the substantive matter.

The chairman of SWAGA in Ekiti, Senator Tony Adeniyi, said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and APC had been duly served, while also accusing Governor Buni, Paul Omotoso and Samuel Abejide of evading service.

But the Secretary of Congress Committee in Ekiti, Femi Akindele, said whoever approached the court without exhausting internal mechanism to seek redress would be doing that in flagrant violation of the party’s constitution and guidelines.

Source: https://tribuneonlineng.com/