APC congresses: We are compiling list of litigants ― Senator Akpanudoedehe

The All Progressives Congress Careraker/Extraodinary Convention Planning Committee would not spare aggrieved chieftains who have approached the courts to frustrate the process that would lead to the conduct of its national convention.

National Secretary of the APC CECPC, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, dropped the hint on Monday while speaking with newsmen in Abuja.

Nigerian Tribune checks revealed that a High Court in Asaba, Delta State capital had stopped the APC Local Government Congress held in Delta State last weekend.

Justice Onome Marshal Umukoro had ruled on an exparte motion filed by Barrister Daubry Ebipade Richard on behalf of Deputy Chairman APC, Olorogun Elvis Ayomanor.

The party however proceeded with the process following a judgement from another judgement from an Abia State High Court.

In a similar vein, members of a pro-Tinubu group, the South West Agenda for Asiwaju 2023 (SWAGA) Ekiti State chapter on Monday sought an order of a Federal High Court in the South-West state to declare the outcomes of the July 31 ward congress and the September 4 local government congress unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

In the suit marked, marked FHC/AD/CS/21/2021 filed at the Ado-Ekiti division of the court, the members also asked the court to sack the national caretaker chairman of the party and governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni and declare as illegal and unconstitutional, all actions taken under him as the chairman of the APC.

Senator Akpanudoedehe told newsmen that the party national secretariat was aware of the court cases which he noted was in breach of the resolutions of the National Executive Committee at its last meeting last December which mandated aggrieved chieftains to seek redress through the party internal mechanisms.

The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory further revealed that the names of the erring chieftains were being compiled for the NEC to take the necessary action.

He said: “We are already compiling the list of all the cases and you are very conversant with the party constitution.

“We will inform the NEC and a decision will be taken by NEC. We will gather the whole thing together then we will approach NEC for a decision.”

Asked for the party position on the conduct of parallel congresses in certain states last weekend, Senator Akpanudoedehe dismissed it as a storm in a teacup.

“I don’t know why you are reporting what is not available. As far as APC is concerned, we are very structured. We put up a committee and the committee has gone out to conduct the congresses. The next step will be an appeal and anyone with issues will go to the appeal and if you are not satisfied with the appeal the caretaker committee will handle it. That is our structure.”

He further maintained that such parallel congresses would not be accorded recognition as there were not conducted in compliance with the APC guidelines for such exercise.

“You know that the supervising institution of a political party is INEC. We will write to INEC and by the rule of the land we are to give them 21 days notice and you will also write to INEC stating names of people who are going to those congresses, the venue you will conduct the congresses, you will also announce locally stating the time of the congress and we would inform the security agencies for protection and guide.

“If you move away from the organization stipulated by INEC we will describe it the way anybody will describe it.

“This is the headquarters of APC and you now go and set up something outside here is no more APC. I’m just hearing from you that there was a parallel congress; I didn’t know,” he said.

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