The Attorney General of Nigeria, Abubakar Malami says the All Progressives Congress, APC is on good grounds to conduct its Congresses scheduled for July 31st.
Speaking on behalf of the APC at a press briefing at the party’s secretariat in Abuja, the member representing the Northeast in the Party’s National Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Professor Mamman Tahir said the party sought the advice of the Office of the Attorney General.
This is against the backdrop of people questioning the legitimacy of the APC National Caretaker Committee to conduct Congresses. Professor Tahir said the party will follow what the court says regardless of the fear of the people on the Congress.
“Our Congresses are on course, it will hold tomorrow and this Committee is working closely with the Attorney General of the Federation and he has offered advice in this regard that we are on good grounds and we are comfortable with that position. So our programmes will continue to roll on in the normal course of things.
“The business of the law is not about speculating what a court will decide in a particular dispute. We deal with what the court have presently decided on. That is the way the law operates. And people can have fear on anything. And whatever decision anybody takes, it will always be subject to litigations. People are free to test the propriety of any decision. You cannot stop anybody, no matter what it is. But we deal with the present at the moment. As I said, we are going on with the decision of the court. That is what we are working with” the Professor said.
Professor Tahir added that they have instructed their members on how to conduct the Congresses therefore they don’t foresee any parallel Congresses holding in any state.
“We have sent our officials from the National secretariat to various state headquarters with forms for people to purchase. And as many people as there are willing to purchase forms, they are free to buy them. So there is no limitation. If there is any one who decide to buy form for some people, it is not against our rules. The most important thing is the electorate and the party members electing their leaders.
“So even in a ward, if 100 people buy form, there is no problem with that. At the end of the day, if they are unable to agree on a consensus which is our preferred choice, genuine consensus where all the stakeholders coming together to agree on who gets what position. If they not able to agree they will now go to congress. And then elect whoever they wish to elect for any particular position. It is very simple” he explained.
According to Professor Tahir, another date has been set for Congresses in Anambra state and Zamfara; “Because we have election coming up in Anambra. We don’t want to jeopardize our position there. Though in Zamfara, only recently, they are still doing their validation and continuation of membership registration. So that is the position, ” he said.
Suzan O
