President Muhammadu Buhari has called for the cancellation of tenure extension for the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress.
The President made the decision while speaking during the party’s National Executive Committee meeting held at the party’s secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday.
The APC had in its NEC meeting on February 28 extended the tenure of members of NWC led by John Odigie-Oyegun by one year.
But speaking today, Mr Buhari said the tenure extension “is against the party constitution and the Nigerian constitution”.
He said he had a change of mind because he doesn’t want the party’s decision to be challenged in any court of law.
“I am delighted to once again welcome you to this NEC Meeting of our great party. As we usually do, I hope we will take the opportunity of this gathering to resolve outstanding issues & consolidate our plans towards making APC the strongest defender of the interests of our people,” President Buhari said.
“In particular, I think it is important for me to speak quickly on the contentious issue of the tenure of our National and State Executive Officers.
“As we all know, a motion was moved at the last National Executive Committee meeting of February 27, 2018, to the effect that when the tenure of the current executives expire in June this year, they should be allowed to continue for one year
“On my own part, I have taken some time to review and seek advise on the resolution. And what I found is that it contravenes both our party Constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“While APC Constitution, Article 17(1) & 13.2(B), limits tenure of elected officers to 4 years, renewable once by election, the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), S223, also prescribes periodic elections for party Excos at regular intervals, which must not exceed 4 years.
“Furthermore, Article 31 of our Party 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.
“Furthermore, I think if we deviate from the constitutional provisions,we might be endangering the fortunes of our party. If the tenure of our party executives can be legally faulted, then it means that any nominations & primary elections that they may conduct,can also be faulted.
“This is not to talk of divisions that would arise, and is already arising within the party, when some of our members feel that they are being denied the right to aspire to executive positions, or that internal democracy is not at play within the party.
“I am therefore of the firm view that it is better to follow strictly the dictates of our party and national constitutions, rather than put APC and its activities at grave risk.
“Fortunately, we have already approved a timetable for the holding of congresses and elections. I think these should be allowed to go forward and all efforts should now be geared towards making them a great success.
“Once again, I welcome you all to this meeting with the hope that we will promote, always, the highest interest of the party and of our people.”
