The All Progressives Congress (APC) is currently going through a phase of internal wranglings that have prompted drastic actions. These actions include the setting up of a reconciliation committee headed by the party’s national leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and President Muhammadu Buhari wading into the issue of tenure extension for elected officials.
The president had called for the immediate reversal of a decision he said is illegal as it contravenes the party’s constitution. His involvement came on the heels of a legal case filed by aggrieved party chieftains who were in opposition to the tenure elongation.
In response to the president’s directive, the APC national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, had insisted the president only has a voice but does not supersede the party’s national executive council (NEC). The NEC. at its meeting, resolved to set up technical committees to review the reasons given by the president. This is more than 96 hours ago.
This might be connected to reports of discord even in the John Odigie-Oyegun-led national working committee as members are said to not be in agreement with the extension. Those opposing the institution of review committees argue that it is only a ploy to navigate around the president’s directive, demanding instead that dates for the immediate conduct of congresses should be announced instead.
There are issues over the propriety of subjecting the outcome of a NEC meeting to a technical committee to be instituted by the NWC “which is a respondent in the matter to be adjudicated upon,” a party member told The Nation“The President, who is the leader of the party, spoke at the last NEC meeting and he was not contradicted by anybody.
He made his position clear and buttressed it with constitutional reasons. We believe the way to go is to put modalities and dates in place for the conduct of congresses as advised by Mr. President and other leaders of the party. The idea of a technical committee, given the shortness of time, is unacceptable.
“That the said technical committee is yet to be constituted 96 hours after the meeting is a proof that it is unpopular. We know those insisting on it and we know their intentions. We have told them we will reject it as we cannot be judges in our own case. The NWC is a party to the matter to be reviewed and it should not be the one to set up such a body,” the source added.
In addition to this, the party chieftains have refused to withdraw their lawsuit against the party. The men reiterated their demand that the party hold congresses and replace the current NWC with a new one.
“We are sincerely talking to our members currently in court over the matter to respect President Buhari and save the APC from crisis by withdrawing their cases. But they are insisting that there must be dates and procedures for congresses in place for them to do that. Two of them invited to the national secretariat during the week were categorical in rejecting the idea of a technical committee.
“But sadly, some of our people see the technical committee as an escape route from what is obviously an inevitable end. The party’s future depends on internal democracy and the President has warned us not to toy with that. Most of us are ready to seek re-election at the congress than threaten the future of the party by staying put in office through the back door,” the source added.
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