APC divide widens as Lagos kicks against tenure extension for Oyegun, others

The noticeable divide in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the tenure of its national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, seems to be growing wider with every passing day.
The Lagos State chapter of the party has kicked against the elongation of tenure of the party’s national and state executives, saying it is against the country’s and APC’s constitutions.

Rising from a Consultative Forum held at State House Marina, Lagos which was attended by party elders from across the state, the chapter said the extension of the tenure of Chief Odigie-Oyegun, and his executives by one year was illegal.

It would be recalled that a national leader of the party, and a former governor of the state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was among those in the forefront of calls on Oyegun to resign from the office of national chairman.

Ironically, the latest opposition to Oyegun’s tenure is coming from the home state of Tinubu, who President Muhammadu Buhari has saddled with the responsibility of reconciling aggrieved members of the party.

This is even as Tinubu, whose wife had once complained of having been dumped by Buhari after the 2015 elections, had written a letter to the president, alleging that Oyegun was sabotaging his efforts at carrying out his assignment.

However, the Lagos APC contended that Section 223 of the 1999 Constitution as amended provides for periodical election on a democratic basis for principal officers and members of the executive committee of political parties.

And that according to the constitution, election of the officers or members of the executive committee of a political party will be deemed to be periodical if done at regular intervals not exceeding four years.

Article 17 of the party’s constitution also provides for a four-year tenure for its national and state executives, which is renewable for another four years.

Lagos State Central Senatorial District Leader of the party, Chief Tajudeen Olusi, who spoke with journalists after the consultative forum, said: “We have taken reports of the state APC chairman in respect of the NEC meeting held in Abuja. We have also had the privilege of receiving great reports from our leader from the reconciliation committee.

Read also: Senate invites Aviation minister Sirika, others over air mishaps

“We have considered the issue of extension of tenure and we are of the firm belief that the decision is a breach of the constitution of our party and of the country. We are against the elongation of tenure.

We shall continue to make our decision known to the party and to the president”.

The tenure of Oyegun and its executives is due to expire in June this year.

The state APC also pointed to Section 223 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, as amended, which states that: “(1)The Constitution and rules of a political party shall

(a) provide for the periodical election on a democratic basis of the principal officers and members of the executive committee or other governing body of the political party; and
(b) ensure that the members of the executive committee or other governing body of the political party reflect the federal character of Nigeria
(2) For the purposes of this section –
(a) the election of the officers or members of the executive committee of a political party shall be deemed to be periodical only if it is made at regular intervals not exceeding four years; and…”

According to Olusi, In extending the tenure, the APC National Executive Committee had relied on Article 13.3 (ii) of its constitution which states that The NEC can discharge the functions of the convention in a period of emergency.
The party’s argument: Article 13.3 (ii) of APC Constitution specifically states that the NEC of the party is empowered to;

“Discharge all functions of the National Conventions as constituted in between Conventions”.

But the provision in Article 13.3 (ii) is not limitless and open-ended. It is a responsibility restricted by the same constitution, which provides exclusively under Article 30 (i) that: “This Constitution and Schedules hereto can be amended only by the National Convention of the Party”.

The party’s constitution provides the processes for constitution amendment.

Article 30 “(ii) Notice of any proposed amendment by any member or organ of the Party shall be given to the National Secretary at least twenty-one (21) days before the date of the National Convention. The notice, which shall be in writing, shall contain a clear statement of the proposed amendment and reasons thereof.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now