The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ELONGATION

  • Lagos APC: count us out of elongation

    Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has nothing to do with those plotting for tenure elongation for the members of the Oyegun-led National Working Committee (NWC), party’s Deputy Publicity Secretary  spokesman, Mr Abiodun Salami has said.

    Salami said the chapter’s position was influenced by the submission of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo at the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja last week on the implication of tenure elongation for the NWC members on the party.

    He said Lagos would never be a party to a decision that will work against the APC now that we are preparing for the 2019 general elections.

     

  • Court to hear suit on tenure elongation April 16

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed April 16, to hear a suit challenging the tenure elongation of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressive Congress (APC), headed by Mr. John Oyegun.

    The plaintiff, Mr Ademorin Kioye, led some other members of the party to file the suit after the party extended the tenure of the NWC by one year.

    The defendants are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC and its National Chairman and the National Organising Secretary, Sen. Osita Izunaso.

    The plaintiffs on March 15, obtained an ex parte order directing the defendants to show cause why members of the NWC should not be barred from parading themselves as national officials of the party.

    When the matter was called, counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), told the court that all the defendants had been duly served with the court order of March 15.

    INEC counsel Mr Idris Yakubu said that the commission had filed a preliminary objection to the suit on Wednesday.

    APC’s counsel, Mr Joseph Daudu (SAN), said the party was served with the clear court order and it was clear that the court did not cut short the time within which the respondents were to file their processes.

    According to Daudu, the suit raises serious constitutional issues and it will be only fair to allow them file their processes as allowed by the rules since they are within time.

    “For the interest of fair hearing, we are still within time to file our processes and we have a preliminary objection to the jurisdiction of this court,” he said.

    Mr Akin Olujimi (SAN), counsel to Oyegun, aligned himself with submissions and added that the order of the court said nothing on the abridgement of time.

    He argued that the process filed was not ripe for hearing since they had 30 days to respond.

    Mr James Onoja (SAN), counsel to Izunaso also objected to the immediate hearing of the matter on the grounds that it was not yet ripe for hearing.

    Okutepa disagreed with the defendants’ counsel that the rule of the court allowed them 30 days to respond.

    According to him, Order 13 rule 35 of the court provides 14 days for them to respond to the originating summons served on them on March 14. Wednesday was the 15th day, so it was ripe for hearing, he stressed.

    Okutepa argued that they were served with the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction on the same day and they ought to have replied within seven days.

    He said that President Muhammadu Buhari had on Tuesday at a meeting at the Presidential Villa conceded that the NWC’s tenure elongation was unconstitutional, so the defendants should allow the matter to be heard.

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba held that the court would follow a road map that would guaranty fair hearing of the matter expeditiously.

    He adjourned the matter until April 16 and ordered the parties to file all their processes before then.

  • Buhari gets kudos for rejecting tenure elongation

    CHAIRMAN  of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State  Dr. Emmanuel Ndukwe has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to reject tenure elongation for the National Working Committee.

    He said the decision would strengthen the party and ensure internal democracy.

    The President told the National Executive Committee (NEC) that extending the tenure of the John Oyegun-led National Working Committee (NWC) and other state executives beyond June was illegal.

    Ndukwe, who attended the NEC meeting after taking over as party chairman in Abia following his court victory, described Buhari as a law-abiding citizen, who believes in working in accordance with the party’s constitution.

    Commenting on the President’s speech shortly after the 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 a 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 in the grassroots. There is no need running away, let them come in build the party.

    “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 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 election in 2019.”

  • Buhari rejects Oyegun’s tenure elongation

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday declared the proposal to extend the tenure of All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and other categories of officers as illegal

    He told the  party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja yesterday that the plan is against the party’s constitution and the Nigerian constitution.

    The President, who arrived at the APC national secretariat at 11.17am, said after seeking legal advice, he concluded that the decision was capable of endangering the party’s fortunes.

    President Buhari said allowing a caretaker committee to run the party outside the constitutional provision would have adverse effect on the party.

    He said: “As we all know, a motion was moved at the last National Executive Committee meeting of February 27, 2018 to the effect that when the tenure of the present executive expires in June this year, they should be allowed to continue for another one year. This motion was duly carried by majority of members present at the last NEC meeting, even though some of our party members have spoken vehemently against it, while others have taken the matter to court.

    “On my own, I have taken time to review and seek advice on the resolution and what I found is that it contravenes both the APC constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. While the APC constitution in Articles 17 (1) and 13 (b) limit 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 recontest 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. Fortunately, we have already approved a timetable for the holding of congresses and primary election. I think this should be allowed to go forward and efforts should now be geared towards making them a great success.”

    The President explained that while he was merely expressing his own opinion, that did not preclude the meeting from discussing the issue. He said: “I want to tell you members of NEC that this does not preclude us from discussing this matter. We have so many SANs in the house.

    “If people think the constitutions, both for the party and the country have facilitated the decision we have taken, all well and good. I don’t feel too strongly about that. The only thing I feel strongly about is that we should not allow our party to be vulnerable and susceptible to the opposition by delaying us and going to court and quoting appropriate constitutional provision from either the party or national constitution to delay us or divise us further.

    “Please take note of this my statement. There are knowledgeable people among you. So, please feel free to discuss and let us quickly, with the help of the legal adviser, clear the issues that are raised.

    “But I have taken time to listen to the legal advice constitutionally given to me in the Ministry of Justice and conclude that our decision contravened the party constitution and the constitution of the country.

    “So, please feel free to bring facts and we will discuss and reflect on them and proceed to accept whatever we feel should be done and be prepared to face the opposition either in court or the pages of newspapers. Let us make sure that our programme is not disrupted by court actions.”

    A stalwart of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu applauded the President’s speech, saying it “saves the party from serious legal turmoil.”

    In a statement by his Media Office, Tinubu added that the President “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”.

    Describing the motion for tenure elongation at the February 27 NEC meeting as “ill-conceived”, the former Lagos State governor said: “President Buhari showed principle and courage by steering the party back to its original and correct path”.

    “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.”

    Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha also commenced President Buhari’s pronouncement.

    He said that the President “has scored another beautiful goal for the nation’s democracy”.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo,  Okorocha said the “APC must continue to show good example to other political parties by demonstrating due regard to the provisions of the nation’s Constitution and that of the party”.

    After the NEC meeting, National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said members praised the President for allowing them to express their opinions on the issue after taking a position and constituted a technical committee to work within two days and advise the party on the next line of action”

    He said the meeting did not take any decision on the tenure elongation issue, stressing that the “position of the last NEC still stands pending the outcome of the technical committee report”. “That position may change tomorrow. But after the technical committee’s report, NEC will still have to meet to either reverse itself or affirm its earlier decision,” Abdullahi said.

    Kogi state Governor Yahaya Bello said the decision taken at the last NEC meeting was not to elongate the tenure of the party executives, but to ensure that crisis that might arise from party primaries thereby affecting the fortunes of the party during the general elections.

    Oyegun said the party was proud of the President’s handling of the Dapchi schoolgirls’ abduction, which he described as “a miracle done by the President”.

    He said the meeting was a continuation of the last meeting of the party NEC to discuss the review of the party constitution and also review the report of the True Federalism committee.

    At the meeting were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Governors Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe), Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Sani Bello (Niger), Tanko AlMakura (Nasarawa), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi) and Jibrilla Bindo (Adamawa).  Deputy governors of Kwara, Osun, Oyo, Zamfara and Borno states stood in for their governors.

     

  • APC ‘won’t discuss tenure elongation at today’s NEC meeting’

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has ruled out revisiting the issue of tenure elongation of National Working Committee (NEC) members during today’s meeting at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

    The party also ruled out possible discussion on the conduct of its national convention scheduled for June during the NEC meeting.

    It gave hint that those challenging the tenure elongation decision in court may soon be sanctioned in line with the party’s constitution.

    Speaking with reporters after the National Working Committee meeting, APC National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said, even though the timetable released made it clear that the party convention will hold in June, it was not part of the agenda for today’s meeting.

    He said there were only two items on the agenda for the meeting, which were differed during the last meeting because members requested for time to study them and make their inputs.

    He said: “We have the National Executive Committee meeting coming up on Tuesday at 11a.m. It is going to be a routine NEC meeting, which is a final leg of the meeting that was held last month.

    “If you recall after the NEC meeting last month, I told you that two issues were outstanding and that members asked for more time to study those issues. These are the issues of constitutional amendment and the True Federalism committee report. They are the two key items on the agenda for tomorrow’s NEC meeting.

    “If you look at the calendar that was circulated during the last meeting, we are going to have a convention by June and a committee will be set up to that effect. But no committee has been set up yet and it is not on the agenda for the meeting. In any case, such committee is not set up at the NEC meeting.”

    Speaking on the proposed constitutional amendment, Abdullahi said: “The purpose of bringing the issue of constitutional amendment to the NEC is to ensure members, who have issues to raise and opinion to canvass or perspective to share will have opportunity to do so before the final draft is adopted by NEC.

    “Once the final draft is adopted by NEC, you still have the convention, which has the final authority to adopt the amendments. All these are being created to give the various constituencies within the party the opportunity to canvass their views and their positions.”

    Abdullahi said the party is not surprised that some members decided to take the party to court after its NEC took a decision on a one year tenure elongation of leaders of the party at both the state and national level.

    He said: “Sanctioning such members is something we are looking at and if it’s a possibility because we have a responsibility to also protect the constitution of the party and to maintain discipline in accordance with the constitution.”

     

  • ‘APC tenure elongation mere proposal’

    THE motion to extend the tenure of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) headed by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun is a proposal that must be backed by amending the party’s constitution.

    A member of the APC national executive, who craved anonymity, told The Nation that the party’s constitution permits the National Executive Council (NEC) to make proposal for constitution amendment.

    According to the party chieftain, the NEC will through a newspaper advertorial announce the proposal 21 days before the national convention.

    “It is the convention that will either approve or disapprove such a proposal,” he said.

    He said until these procedures are followed, no one can say the tenure of the Odigie-Oyegun-led executive has been elongated.

    “Our members should get it right, NEC has no power to elongate its tenure; the power belongs to the national convention. NEC can only make proposal to the convention, which is what we have done,” he stated.

    He advised party members to get copies of the constitution to acquaint themselves of the provisions rather than heating the polity.

    “They have the right to challenge the party decisions in the court but we should exhaust the internal mechanism for resolving disputes before heading to court,” he said.

    At the last NEC meeting, major stakeholders of the party resolved to extend the tenure of all party officials, from the national to the ward levels, by 12 months, to avoid going to the general elections through rancorous congresses and national convention.

    Already some aggrieved members of the party have challenged the tenure elongation for the NWC of the APC in Lagos and Abuja High Court. They are asking the courts to void it.

    A source said the APC stakeholders is planning to change the designation of the national chairman and working committees in the states to acting capacity at the expiration of their tenure on June 30, 2018. The source added that the decision was taken to pre-empt the court cases slammed on the party.

    He said the new designation would be ratified at the NEC meeting scheduled for this month.