President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday advised members of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress wishing to retain their positions or aspire for another to resign and re-contest in line with the party’s constitution.
Buhari, gave the advice in his opening remarks during the 5th National Executive Council meeting of the APC in Abuja on Tuesday, oppossing tenure elongation for the NWC members.
He faulted the earlier decision of the party’s NEC to grant one year extension to party executives at all levels, citing a breach of relevant sections of the party’s constitution, as well as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), as a reason for his action.
The President expressed hope that the party’s NEC would resolve outstanding issues and reposition the party to face the challenges ahead.
He said, “I think it is important for me to speak on the contentious issues of the tenure of our national and state executive officers.
“As we all know, a motion was moved in the last National Executive Committee meeting of February 27 to the effect that when the tenure of the current executives expires in June this year, they should be allowed to continue for one year.
“This motion was duly carried by the majority of members present at the last NEC meeting, even though some of our party members have since spoken up vehemently against it; others have even taken the matter to court.
“On my own part, I have taken time to review and seek advice on the resolution and what I found is that it contravenes both our party’s constitution and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“While the APC constitution in Article 17(1) and 13.2 (b) limits the tenure of elected officers to four years, renewable once by another election, the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) in Section 223 proscribes periodic elections for party executives at regular intervals which must not exceed four years.
“Furthermore, Article 31 of our great party’s 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 elections once the tenure of the current executives approaches its end.
“A caretaker committee cannot remedy this situation and cannot validly act in place of elected officers.
The APC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, said it had set up a small committee to consider the President’s position.
He said, “However, as of today, the decision taken by NEC during its last meeting in February still stands.”
In his welcome address, the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, had said the party was proud of President Buhari over his handling of the Dapchi schoolgirls’ issue.
Those in attendance at the meeting include Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo; Senate President, Bukola Saraki; state Governors Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe; Aminu Masari of Katsina; Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi; Yahaya Bello of Kogi; Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun; Godwin Obaseki of Edo; Rochas Okorocha of Imo; Sani Bello of Niger; Samuel Ortom of Benue; Tanko AlMakura of Nasarawa; Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano and Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa.
A former Governor of Lagos state and national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in a statement he personally signed, hailed Buhari’s address at the NEC meeting.
In his statement entitled, ‘The President has spoken,’ Tinubu said the address was straightforward, adding that it showed that the APC was committed to the principles of internal democracy and the rule of law.
He said, “President Buhari’s action saves the party from a 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 a mortal blow to the party and its role in promoting progressive governance in Nigeria.”
“The President has spoken. Today is a good day for those who cherish democracy and legality. His action will also 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 fit.”
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