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The National chairman of the Reformed All Progressives Congress
(R-APC),Alhaji Buba Galadima, has written to the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC), seeking to sack the Adams Oshiomole-led
National executive committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Galadima, in a letter to INEC date July 4, 2018,Mr. Galadima told the
electoral body that congresses before the National Convention of the party
were marred with serious irregularities and manipulations.
4th July, 2018
The Chairman
Independent National Electoral Commission
Maitama
Abuja
REQUEST TO INVALIDATE THE PURPORTED ELECTION OF NATIONAL OFFICERS OF THE
ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC) AND NOT TO RECOGNISE THEM.
I write as a foundation member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a
member of its Board of Trustees, National Caucus and an automatic delegate
at its National Convention, to bring to your notice that on 23rd June,
2018, the All Progressive Congress (APC) purportedly held a very flawed
and undemocratic Convention for the purpose of electing its National
Officers following the disputed Congresses held in various Wards (May 2,
2018), Local Governments (May 5, 2018), State Congress (May 8, 2018).
2. These Congresses leading up to the National Convention of the party
were marred with serious irregularities and manipulations to the extent
that in at least 22 States, parallel Congresses were held and different
set of delegates and officers emerged. Some of the States includes: Abia,
Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Cross-River, Delta, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna,
Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ondo, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto
and Zamfara.
You should please access the Report of your offices in these States for
confirmation.
3. In particular the “election” of the following officers of the party was
in direct contravention of Article 20(1) of the APC Constitution, which
says:
“Unless otherwise provided for: All party posts prescribed or implied by
this Constitution shall be filled by democratically conducted elections at
the respective National Convention or Congress subject, where possible, to
consensus, Provided that where a Candidate has emerged by consensus for an
elective position, a vote of “Yes” or “No” by ballot or voice shall be
called, to ensure that it was not an imposition which could breed
discontent and crisis”.
4. The officers affected include:
1. National Chairman – Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
2. National Welfare Secretary – Alhaji Ibrahim Masari.
3. National Financial Secretary – Alhaji Tunde Bello.
4. National Physically Challenged – by Misbahu L. Didi.
5. Zonal Secretary North-Central – Dr. Zakari Muhammed.
6. Zonal Organising Secretary North-Central – Ibrahim M. Abdul.
7. Zonal Women Leader North-Central – Hajia Hassana Abdullahi.
8. Ex-Officio North-Central – Nelson Abba.
9. Zonal Secretary North-East – Abubakar Sadiq Ajia
10. Ex-Officio North-East – Mallam Isah Azare.
11. Zonal Secretary North-West – Tukur A. Gusau.
12. Zonal Organizing Secretary North-West – Abdulmunab Muhammad.
13. Ex-Officio, North-West – Nasiru Haladu Danu.
14. Zonal Woman Leader South-South – Mrs. Rachael Akpabio.
15. Ex-Officio, South-South – Kotenten Ibadan.
16. Zonal Secretary South-West – Ayo Afolabi.
17. Zonal Women Leader South-West – Mrs. Kemi Nelson.
18. Ex-Officio South-West – Omoloye O. Akintola.
5. Furthermore, in the course of the Convention proceedings, many other
persons purportedly withdrew from the contest for the various offices, and
the Convention Chairman announced them as unopposed and “elected” without
following any form of due process. This affected the position of the
National Secretary and others.
6. What transpired was that the Chairman of the Convention, His
Excellency, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar flagrantly usurped the powers
of the delegates and declared 18 officers elected without following the
laid down criteria.
7. I have attached the video recording of the relevant aspects of the
proceedings of the convention for your perusal.
8. Furthermore, a transcript of the proceedings concerning the 18 officers
are also attached for your records. See Annexure 1.
9. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 provides in
S.223 (1) and (2) 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
(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;”.
10. Furthermore, the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended gives INEC enormous
powers to monitor political parties. Specifically, S.85(1), 85(2) and
85(3) provide:
85. (1) A registered political party shall give the Commission at least 21
days notice of any convention, congress, conference or meeting convened
for the purpose of electing members of its executive committees, other
governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices
specified under this Act.
85 (2) The Commission may, with or without prior notice to the political
party monitor and attend any convention, congress, conference or meeting
which is convened by a political party for the purpose of – (a) electing
members of its executive committees or other governing bodies; (b)
nominating candidates for an election at any level; and (c) approving a
merger with any other registered political party.
85(3) The election of members of the executive committee or other
governing body of a political party, including the election to fill a
vacant position in any of these bodies, shall be conducted in a democratic
manner and allowing for all members of the party or duly elected delegates
to vote in support of a candidate of their choice.
11. The Convention held on 23rd June, 2018 which purportedly produced the
National Officers of the APC was not conducted in a democratic manner as
required by Article 20(1) of the APC Constitution, the 1999 Constitution
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act.
12. All attempts to activate the appeal processes and internal mechanisms
of seeking redress as a senior member of the APC was frustrated by the
party.
13. Our prayers:
We respectfully, therefore, request INEC to intervene, following
precedents established over the years, to declare invalid and unlawful and
not to accord any form of recognition to officers purportedly elected at
the APC Convention of June 23, 2018. The officers include the aforesaid 18
officers and indeed all those who purportedly withdrew during the
Convention as they were just declared elected by the Chairman of the
Convention Committee without a “Yes” or “No” vote and indeed without any
form of democratic foundation. It also includes the remaining officers as
the Delegates election that produced them wase seriously flawed and not in
compliance with relevant rules. Their emergence is a breach of the 1999
Constitution, the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the APC (Article
20(1)).
Yours faithfully,
Buba Galadima (Engr.)
APC Ward Usur/Dawayo, Bade LGA
Yobe State
Nigeria
Chairman, Reformed-APC (R-APC)