APC national convention illegal; INEC shouldn’t recognise it: PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against attending or monitoring APC’s Saturday national convention.
PDP said this in a statement on Thursday.
“INEC, being a government agency set up by law, that also draws from the budgetary allocation of the country with respect to superintending over electoral processes and management of political parties, can only superintend over and monitor bodies over which it has the mandate to supervise,” the main opposition party in Nigeria noted.
It further argued that the ruling party had become defunct.
“But the APC, having been defunct on December 8, 2020, when it dissolved its national, states, as well as local government structures, ceases, in the eyes of the law, to be a political party,” PDP explained. “As such, APC cannot be subject of INEC’s regulations with particular reference to its supposed national convention.”
The party also emphasised that the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) was established to organise the ruling party’s national convention in 2020.
It added that the APC’s CECPC by its composition with a state governor as chairman “is illegal and unconstitutional by reason of Section 183 of the Nigerian Constitution which bars a sitting governor from holding ‘any other executive office in any capacity whatsoever’.”
The statement further pointed out that “Article 14 (i) of the APC Constitution clearly states that the chairman of the APC “shall be the “chief executive…” of the party.
“In going beyond its mandate,” PDP asserted, “the CECPC acted ultra vires, and all administrative acts purportedly done or deemed to have been done by this Committee are null and void and void ab initio.”
According to PDP, delegates to APC’s national convention produced by congresses conducted by the CECPC are “handicapped delegates with leprous fingers which cannot deliver any vote to produce a valid and legal political leadership for the APC.”
PDP, therefore, warned INEC not to waste public resources to monitor a “jamboree” that would be of no legal or electoral effect under the law.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Lagos
Epe residents hail FG over improved electricity supply
Mr Ajibade said the improved electricity supply enabled him to expand his business operations beyond maize processing into other profitable ventures.
States
INEC assures persons with disabilities of inclusion in Nasarawa electoral activities
The REC also reminded residents that the ongoing continuous voter registration (CVR) had been extended from July 10 to July 26.
Lagos
Six men on trial over alleged phone theft, assault at Agege Train Station
Magistrate Lateef Owolabi admitted each defendant to bail in the sum of ₦300,000 with one surety in like sum.
NationWide
Experts advise journalists on ethical use of AI
The lead facilitator, Silas Jonathan, said that AI should be seen as a tool that enhances journalism rather than replaces journalists.
States
Two Lagos women arraigned for allegedly defrauding two men of ₦360 million
The case was adjourned until July 28, for further hearing.
Heading 5
Ekiti footballer bags one-year jail term for stabbing opponent with jagged bottle
The court, however, gave the convict an option of N5,000 fine on count one, and N2,000 fine on count two.
