The suspension letter, sighted by our correspondent Thursday, is dated February 5, 2021, signed by Secretary of the APC Caretaker/Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee, Sen. James Akpanudoedehe, and addressed to the Kwara State Chairman, Hon. Abdullahi Samari Abubakar.
The 11 party members loyal to Lai had approached the court to demand the removal of the approved State Caretaker Committee Chairman, Abubakar, contrary to the directive of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of 25th June 2020, where it was resolved that no member of the party should institute any court action against the party.
The letter read in part; “The Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee considered the decision of the Kwara State Caretaker Committee dated 5 February 2021, on the resolution of the Kwara State Disciplinary Committee to suspend erring members who instituted SUIT NO: CV/241/2021 BETWEEN JOSEPH TSADO AND 10 ORS VS ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS & 2 ORS against the pa
Even in the Senate, members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were at each other’s throats on the practicability or otherwise of transmitting election results electronically, a development that made other important provisions in the bill less prominent during the debate. While most APC members supported legal backing for transmitting election results with a caveat, many PDP expressed reservations.
The Drama at the Senate
The Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021was passed after a clause-by-clause consideration of the report of the Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Red Chamber approved electronic transmission of results during elections provided that: “The national network coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secured by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and approved by the National Assembly.”
“Following the defection of the Executive Governor of Zamfara State Hon. Bello Muhammad (Matawallen Maradun) and I, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on 29th June 2021, at the mega rally organised in Gusau to welcome us into the mainstream APC at the rally, Chairman of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Governor Mai Mala Buni, the Executive Governor of Yobe State, publicly announced the dissolution of all the party executives from the state to the ward levels.
“Governor Buni went on to bestow on the Executive Governor of Zamfara State the position of the APC leader in Zamfara State. A day after the rally, on June 30, 2021, the former governor of Zamfara State Abdulaziz Yari who was in attendance at the mega rally, met with his factional leaders of the APC in Kaduna and debunked all the pronouncements made by the national chairman,” Shinkafi said.
While some activists have queried the rationale behind fielding 57 council chairmanship candidates instead of 20, the state has always conducted local government elections in the 20 LGs and 37 LCDAs.
The concerned APC stakeholders said fielding 57 candidates was a subversion of the provision of the constitution and indulging in actions capable of eroding the core values of the party in the country.
In the petition, signed by the chairman of the group, Kabir Onalapo, and secretary, Olajide Olukogbe, the APC members said they considered it “expedient” and “imperative” to bring these infractions to the knowledge of the party which “if left unattended would thwart the overall efforts of the national body of the APC in deepening democracy in Nigeria.”
The group lauded the committee for its “giant strides” in the areas of building structures, membership drive, reconciliation of aggrieved members and ending of litigations among others.
“APC was a shadow of its former self, a lifetime away from its dynamic and progressive credentials that propelled it to a historic victory in the 2015 presidential election.
“History beckons on Governor Buni and his team, on our leader President Buhari and the entire leadership cadre and mass of membership of the APC.
“That history is to deliver the best ever congresses and National Convention of the party in the months ahead and thus lay a formidable foundation for the party’s presidential primary next year and resounding victory in the 2023 presidential election,” the group said.