LGA Congresses: Mutters As APC Vows To Ignore Court Order

In disregard of a court order, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has vowed to proceed with its local government area congresses scheduled for Saturday, September 4.

A Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba had on Wednesday sacked governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, as Chairman, Caretaker Ex­traordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the APC.

The presiding judge, Justice Onome Marshal Umukoro, also restrained the interim chairman and others from parading themselves as members of the party’s CECPC until the determination of a substantive suit before the court. ­

Furthermore, the judge in his ruling also stopped the party’s scheduled LG Con­gress in Delta State slated for September 4, 2021.

APC Says Court Order Not Binding On Congresses

However, while inaugurating the Local Government Congress Committees on Thursday, Buni, who was represented by CECPC Secretary, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, declared that the Saturday Local Government Congress and the July 31 na­tionwide ward congresses are “legally protected.”

The caretaker committee also vowed “to severely sanction members and their sponsors who take the party to court.”

He also urged committee members to go to their vari­ous states of primary assign­ment with confidence, dignity, commitment, and pride.

“We also use this oppor­tunity to reiterate the resolu­tion of NEC of our party to severely sanction members and their sponsors who take the party to court. His Excel­lency (Hon) Mai Mala Buni is determined to carry out to the letter the instructions of our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, which is to rebuild the party, bottom-up. The process has reached an advanced ground stage.

“Rest assured that your assignment, as well as the earlier ward congresses na­tionwide, is legally protected. We are on solid ground.

“Consequently, the CECPC ratifies and adopts the results of the party’s earlier nationwide ward congresses held on Saturday, July 31, 2021, however, any state Caretaker Committee who swears in any person or group of persons who are not elected through a congress conducted by the designated National Congress Committee of the party is null, void and of no effect. However, where there are still complaints, the CECPC would be fair to all.

“Accordingly, the CECPC hereby directs you all to go and conduct nationwide Local Government (LGA) Congresses on Saturday, September 4, 2021, as contained in the official timetable/schedule of ac­tivities released by the party.”

Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu, who spoke on behalf of the LG Congress Commit­tees, promised to conduct the exercise in line with the constitution of the party and the vision of the founding fa­thers.

Court Order On APC Congresses: Ubani Reacts

In his reaction, Monday Ubani, former Second Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said it is an act of impunity for the APC to disobey a court order.

According to him, such ac­tions will have consequences in the future if anyone chal­lenges the outcome of the election.

Ubani, who is the Chairman, NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), said the APC should have taken action to challenge the order or step it aside rather than flagrantly disobeying it by proceeding with the congresses.

“It will be very wrong for the APC to disobey a court order. However, wrongly they perceive the court order to be, they should have gone back to the same court to either set it aside or go on appeal.

“If they disobey the court and went ahead with the election, it has consequences at the end of the day because if somebody challenges the election that has taken place, bringing this court order that came into existence before the election, it has grave consequences.

“So, it is better the court or­der was complied with or they go on appeal to step it aside rather than going ahead. It is part of the impunity in the system. Maybe they feel because they are the political party in power, they can do anything and get away with it. But like I said earlier, it has consequences at the end of the day”.

Also speaking on the court order, the NBA chief said, “We keep on telling these courts also to be careful in issuing ex parte order to remove a substantive chairman. It is part of the things we are complaining about. Issuing ex parte to remove a substantive chairman is also very wrong. But they can appeal against it to step aside rather than disobeying it”.

Source: Daily Independent

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