My expulsion by APC NEC, a nullity, Eta vows

Mixed reactions have trailed resolutions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Executive Committee (NEC) at its meeting, on Tuesday, held at the Presidential Villa.

The NEC dissolved the executives of the party at ward, local councils and States and announced that Caretaker Committees would be put in place.

Recall that a similar resolution was taken last June when it dissolved the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole led National Working Committee and announced a Caretaker Committee led by Yobe State governor, Mallam Mai Mala Buni, to administer the party national secretariat.

The NEC, on Tuesday, also expelled a former National vice-chairman, South-South, Hillard Etagboeta, for filing a suit challenging the legality of the Governor Yobe led interim national leadership.

Speaking with Tribune Online in a telephone interview, Etagboeta dismissed his expulsion as a nullity.

The former national vice chairman insisted that no statutory organ of the APC proclaimed Senator James Akpan- Udoedehe as acting national secretary of the party.

He further maintained that since the interim leadership was an illegal contraption, it has no power to convene a NEC meeting.

He said: “I am already in Court. The lawyers amongst them should have told them that they can’t make that pronouncement since I am in Court.

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“Their action is a nullity because it isn’t even the NEC of the party that met. ” Their so-called acting national secretary has no power to convene NEC.”

Abdullahi Dauda, spokesman of the Concerned APC Members, a group which has consistently kicked against tenure elongation for the Caretaker Committee said it was not taken aback by the resolutions of the NEC.

The Forum declared that the APC was set for another round of intractable crisis. They cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari not to allow certain individuals to destroy the ruling party.

“The pronouncement by our party’s NEC did not come to us as a surprise, we knew about the plot long before today. We wish to say it is the beginning of another long journey for our party. If those who have hijacked the party think they can frustrate us out of a party so many people came together to build, they should think again because we are not leaving.

“We as loyal members of this great party will continue to ask our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari not to allow a few selfish individuals misguide him into taking actions that will destroy this party.”

Enugu State APC Chairman and Secretary of the Forum of State Chairmen which was stripped of its existence sequel to their dissolution, Dr Ben Nwoye, however, said the dissolution was in order.

“The decision to dissolve the Exco of the party was in the interest of the party. The outcome of the NEC meeting was in the interest of the party to further strengthen the party and further streamline the processes and solidify the party and by the time the Caretaker Committee finishes their work, we have a more formidable party. We have more forward-looking and more Progressive political party.

When asked if his reaction was the official position of the Forum, in view of opposition by some states chairmen, he said: “I don’t know where you got that information from, all I know is that this is the official position of the forum.”

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

 

 

 

 

My expulsion by APC NEC, a nullity, Eta vows