President Muhammadu Buhari, has declared that the one- year tenure elongation granted by the National Executive Committee (NEC) to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) led by the National Chairman, John Odigie- Oyegun and other executive members at the state level is illegal.
President Buhari, who was joined by Vice President, Yemi Osinbanjo, made this declaration at the 6th APC NEC meeting in Abuja on Tuesday stressing that the tenure elongation is not only against the party’s constitution but against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which mandates that election should be held after a four year- term of elected officers of the party.
The party’s agenda for Tuesday’s NEC meeting was originally anchored on the issues of the Party’s recommendation for Restructuring and True Federalism, which it recently presented to the public in February as well as the party’s constitution amendment. However, President Buhari’s declaration abruptly changed the agenda even as he charged that any of the party executive officers, who is interested in continuity should resign and present themselves for election.
The NEC in their last meeting held in February 27th in Abuja had decided to extend the tenure of the entire executive at all levels for 12 months, a move which raised serious controversy as some members opposed the decision and filed court cases against the party.
President Buhari , who at Tuesday’s NEC meeting, stressed that 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 proscribed 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.”
President Buhari also warned party faithful not to allow internal dissension to derail the party to avoid being exploited by the opposition saying “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.”
Speaking to reporters shortly after the NEC meeting, APC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, who had earlier posited that the party will sanction those who had dragged it to court over the issue of tenure elongation, said that the party will set a technical committee to look into President Muhammadu Buhari’s advice. He added that the decision of the NEC on tenure elongation stands until further notice.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, about 17 APC state governors and 4 other deputies attended the meeting. Some of them are; Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello; Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki; Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje and Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu. Others are; Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar; Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru ; Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu; Imo state Governor Rochas Okorocha among others.
Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, in his reaction said the issue “is a family issue” that will be resolve.
