In line with what looks like popular opinion among party supporters, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday rejected the National Executive Council (NEC)’s decision to extend the tenure of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led National Working Committee (NWC) beyond June, this year, describing such move as unconstitutional.
The president, however, asked any party executive interested in continuity, to resign and represent themselves for elections.
The NEC, at its last meeting held in February 27, extended the tenure of all the executive members at all levels for 12 months, a move which some members kicked against and even dragged the party to court.
But, speaking yesterday at the party’s NEC meeting, President Buhari, who described the tenure elongation as “contentious,” said, the issue “contravenes both the APC constitution and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
” According to the president, even a caretaker committee cannot remedy the situation and act in place of elected officials.
“While the APC Constitution in Article 17 (1) and 13 (b) limits the tenure of elected officers to four years renewable by another election, the 1999 constitution of Nigeria as amended, in Section 223 also prescribes periodic election for party executives at regular intervals which must not exceed four years.
“Furthermore, Article 31 of our party constitution provides that any principal officer wishing to re-contest or contest for another post must resign from his current post, at least one month before the election.
“In this circumstance, what is expected of us is to conduct fresh election once the tenure of the current executive approaches its end.
“A caretaker committee cannot remedy the situation and act in place of elected officials.
Furthermore, I think that if we deviate from the constitutional provisions, we might be endangering the fortunes of our party.
“If the tenure of our party executive can be legally faulted, it means that any nomination and primary election they may conduct can also be faulted.
This is not to talk of divisions that may arise or is already arising within the party when some of our party members feel that they are being denied the right to aspire to executive positions or that internal democracy is not at play within the party.
“I am, therefore, of the firm belief that it is better to follow strictly the dictate of our party constitution rather than put APC and its activities at grave risk.
” Buhari also told the NEC members that the only thing he was strong about “is that we should not allow our party to be vulnerable and susceptible to the opposition by delaying us and go to court and quoting appropriate constitutional provision from either the party or national constitution, to delay us or divide us further.
Please take note of this my statement.
” Briefing the newsmen shortly after the NEC meeting which lasted about two hours, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party would set a technical committee to look into President Buhari’s advice, adding that the “decision of the NEC on tenure elongation stands until further notice.
” Also commenting, Kogi state Governor, Yahaya Bello, said “it is a family issue that will be resolved.
” Our correspondent reports that 17 APC governors and four deputy governors attended the meeting.
Good for reconciliation – Tinubu In his reaction, APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said the president’s action “will save the party.
” In a statement he personally signed yesterday, Tinubu said, “the President has spoken.
Today is a good day for those who cherish democracy and legality.
His action will also serve to strengthen the party by allowing party members, including present incumbents, to seek to contribute to the party by vying for executive offices as they see fi t.
“His action will go far in advancing the process of internal reconciliation that is now underway.
It is a time for the party to move forward and begin to plan and organise the needed congresses according to the existing timetables.
“After all, a party bearing the name All Progressives Congress should be the last party to resist holding congresses in which all its people have a fair say and fair chance to aspire to any position in the party, for which they are qualified to hold.
“Again, this is a good day for the APC and democratic political practice in Nigeria.
We shun the politics of old to move toward a new and better way of governing ourselves and this nation.
“President Buhari’s action saves the party from serious legal turmoil.
If the elongations were deemed illegal then all subsequent party actions, including the nomination of all of our candidates for elective offices, might also be of questionable legality.
Such a predicament would constitute an unnecessary and mortal blow to the party and its role in promoting progressive governance to Nigeria.
“Moreover, President Buhari has affirmed for all to see that our party is one based on the rule of law coupled with a firm adherence to internal democracy.
While it would have been easy to allow the ill-conceived motion of 27 February to stand, President Buhari showed principle and courage by steering the party back to its original and correct path.”
Abia chapter backs decision In another reaction, the new Abia state Chairman of the party, Dr.
Emmanuel Ndukwe, said the president’s decision to reject the decision was the best, adding that “such will strengthen the party.
” Ndukwe, who attended the NEC meeting for the first time, after taking over as the helmsman in Abia, described Buhari as “a law-abiding citizen who believes in working in accordance with the party’s Constitution.
” On the president’s speech shortly after the NEC meeting, Ndukwe said: “I am a Buharist, the president is a law-abiding citizen and as a law-abiding citizen, we work with party’s constitution and there is never a place where it was mentioned that tenure can be extended.
“So, I gladly accept and very happy that we are going to conduct our congresses, especially in Abia state where I have taken over.
“I use this opportunity to call on all the people that have been sidelined previously from participating in party activities to mobilise and come in and participate in the congress and they can install whoever they want.
“All what we want is openness.
The era of moneybags coming in, using their money to influence important issues is over.
Let them come in and mobilise people at the grassroots.
There is no need running away, let them come in build the party.
” On the implications of the president’s decision, he said, “all those who call themselves stakeholders and they don’t come home, this is the opportunity for them to come home, mobilise for the party and make the party stronger in Abia state than it has been.
So, I am calling everybody, we are going to run an open government.
“The doors are open quite unlike what has been happening in the past.
All the people that they are feeling they have been excluded from participating in party activities; this is an opportunity to come, prove their popularity and mobilise to work for APC because APC must take over Abia state in the general elections in 2019.
