Dissolution of Buni-led Committee: High Court fixes hearing date
The hearing in a suit filed by an aggrieved member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Okosisi Emeka Ngwu, seeking an order setting aside all actions and decisions taken by the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party has been slated for December 17, 2021, by Justice Babangida Hassan of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Jabi, Abuja.
It was confirmed from a statement where the suit marked FCT/HC/CV/1824/2021 was established and filed by Plaintiff’s lawyer, Chief Oba Maduabuchi (SAN). Plaintiff is further seeking an order of court dissolving the committee known as and called the Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee.
He listed other defendants, including the APC, Isiaka Oyebola, Ken Nnamani, Stella Okorete, Governor Sani Bello, Dr James Lalu, Senator Abubakar Yusuf, Hon Akenyemi Olaiade, David Leon, Abba Ali, Prof. Tahir Mammam, Ismail Ahmed and Senator James Akpan Udoedehe.
Ngwu stated that he wanted to contest the position of the National Chairman of the APC in 2018 when the term of the national chairman of the party expired but was prevailed upon to allow Adams Oshiomhole to be returned unopposed.
After two years, he was surprised to hear that the National Executive Committee and National Working Committee were dissolved and an unknown person had created the CECPC contraption. Mai Mala Buni asked unilaterally to head the committee.
He was surprised because, by the party’s constitution, the NEC should be in office for four years until June 22, 2022.
Therefore, he is seeking a declaration that unless an election is conducted following the Electoral Act and by an organ known to and created by the constitution of the APC, no valid candidates can emerge from such a primary.
The Plaintiff queries whether there was an organ of the APC known as Caretaker/Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee created in or by the constitution of the party and whether the organisation known as and called Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee was one of the organs built by Article 11 of the constitution of the political party known as and called the APC.
Meanwhile, the court has granted an order for extension of time for the APC to enter its appearance in the suit and to file other processes as were prayed by its counsel, Daniel Akinwale.
Suzan O./VANG
