APC Convention: Defectors not to worry about litigations- Governor Buni

Elected Public office holders who defected from other parties to the Nigerian governing party, the All Progressives Congress, APC have been urged not to worry about court litigations that may make them lose their positions.

The outgoing National Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State said this at the Party’s National Convention in Abuja where new leaders are being elected to manage the party’s affairs for the next four years.

Governor Buni said the defectors have not broken any laws and should not be worried about any legal matters relating to their defection.

“Let me assure those, you whose defections are being challenged in the court that you have nothing to fear. Your defections did not contravene any law. You will by the grace of God emerge successful and victorious at the end of these litigations,” Buni said.

Recall that during Governor Buni’s tenure as APC National Chairman, the party witnessed a lot of people including 3 governors, one deputy governor and several lawmakers defecting into the APC from other parties.

However this led to court litigations which resulted in a court judgment against one of the defectors, Governor of Ebonyi state, David Umahi being asked to step down from his position.

Governor Buni who enumerated the achievements of the APC Caretaker Committee said the huge challenges the Committee met in the party warranted the extension of their tenure from six months to about eighteen months.

According to him, among the successes recorded were the high number of defections, formal registration of about 41million members of the APC and reconciliation of aggrieved APC members.

Meanwhile, in his address, the Chairman of the APC Governors Forum, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, commended all the party members vying for different party positions who stepped down in order to adopt consensus of one candidate.

According to Governor Bagudu, they did it out of respect for President Muhammadu Buhari.

“We are aware that out of respect for you, some party members who had wished to contest felt that they don’t want to see Mr. President sitting down longer than necessary and as we speak consultations are going on, some have already agreed to step down, and some are stepping down. All this is the measure of respect you have brought to this party, it is the measure of respect you have earned by your leadership” Bagudu said.

Governor Bagudu added that the President has inspired the APC Governors to work hard in their states which has led to development in the 22 APC controlled states in Nigeria.

Among other speakers at the convention were the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila who both spoke on the efforts of the law makers in amending Nigeria’s laws and promised to revisit laws regarding women inclusion in government.

Others were the outgoing Youth Leader of the party, Ismail Ahmed and representatives of APC in Diaspora.

The APC National Convention was an elective one where about 80 percent of the positions where arrived at through consensus.

The new crop of leaders that will emerge in the convention led by the National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu will play the key role of managing the party’s affairs during the 2023 General Election in Nigeria.

Confidence Okwuchi