The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) might face yet another setback in the run-up to its National Convention.
According to Anaedoonline.ng, while the bulk of party supporters are still celebrating the removal of the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), new information has emerged that suggests the convention may not go forward as scheduled.
Buni led committee has set the national convention of the party for the purpose of choosing national officials for Saturday, March 26th, 2022, after continuously rescheduling the party congress.
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The governor of Yobe State is no longer in the picture, having been replaced by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State, who is likely to take over the party’s activities at the national secretariat.
With only two weeks until the ruling party’s previously scheduled convention date, news gathered by Newsmen on Thursday highlighted a slew of circumstances that may derail the event.
Though no official statement has been issued in response to the situation, revelations to journalists today revealed that, in addition to the ruling party’s internal turmoil, there are additional legal and technological barriers to the national convention.
Apart from other ongoing concerns inside the party, a court injunction prohibiting the APC from holding its national convention has not been vacated or challenged as of this writing.
According to Anaedoonline.ng, the ruling party was barred from holding its convention until a substantive suit was heard and decided by the Bwari division of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in suit number FCT/HC/CV/2958/2021.
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The APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Governor Buni were named as respondents in the suit filed by Hon. Salisu Umoru in court.
The court ruling said, “That the 1st Defendant/Respondent can only conduct its national convention following the hearing and resolution of the substantive matter now before this honourable court.”
“In the interest of justice, faster hearing of the substantive matter is now ordered,” Justice Bello Kawu added.
“That this matter is hereby adjourned to the 10th day of January 2022 for hearing of the substantive suit at High Court No. 15, Kubwa, FCT-Abuja.”
While there is pressure on the APC to hurriedly conduct the congress, the court recently adjourned a hearing of the substantive matter to March 30, after which the party will know its fate on whether to go ahead with its national convention or not.
According to report, these limited timeframe given by the INEC’s guidelines would spell doom for the APC during the 2023 general elections.
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With two subsisting judgements in respect to Rivers and Zamfara states APC candidacies in the 2019 general elections, it would now translate to the party not fielding any legitimate candidate in any of the general elections in 2023.
The fact remains that, the court order restraining INEC and the APC/CECPC is still in force and valid until it is vacated. As of Thursday morning, two weeks to the planned convention, the order had not been vacated.
A section in the newly passed and signed amendment to the Electoral Act is another big trouble for the APC as the party continue to face a puzzle over the conduction of its convention.
Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), reads: “Every registered political party shall give the Commission at least 21 days’ notice of any Convention, Congress, Conference or Meeting convened for the purpose of ‘merger’ and electing members of the executive committee, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified under this Act”
The simple interpretation of this clause means that, after the order is vacated, APC/CECPC needs to give INEC 21 days’ notice that it wants to conduct a national convention. Today is 10th March, the order still subsists, already making a notice of 21 days for convention impossible.
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With INEC having published an elections timetable, the APC is now under pressure to meet stipulated timelines, failing which it may not be able to field candidates in the 2023 general elections.
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