APC’s failed tenure elongation bid

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) dominated the news this week over tenure elongation for members of its National Working Committee (NWC) led by Chief John Odigie- Oyegun. The elongation also included party officials at state and local government levels. The decision was however upturned by President Muhammadu Buhari who, during Tuesday’s National Executive Committee […]

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) dominated the news this week over tenure elongation for members of its National Working Committee (NWC) led by Chief John Odigie- Oyegun. The elongation also included party officials at state and local government levels. The decision was however upturned by President Muhammadu Buhari who, during Tuesday’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party, said tenure elongation which was approved by the same NEC in February violated the party’s constitution.

Buhari said he had reflected on the elongation and also sought advice before he came to the conclusion that it was unconstitutional. He said, “The APC had in its NEC meeting on February 27 extended the tenure of members of National Working Committee (NWC) led by John Odigie-Oyegun by one year.  This motion was duly carried by a majority of members present at the last NEC Meeting, even though some of our party members have since spoken up very vehemently against it. Others have even taken the matter to court. I have taken some time to review and seek advice on the resolution. And what I found is that it contravenes both our party Constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

He said Article 17(1) and 13.2(B) of  APC’s Constitution limits the tenure of elected officers to four years, renewable once by another election while section 223 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) prescribes periodic elections for party executives at regular intervals, which must not exceed four years. “Furthermore, Article 31 of our Party Constitution provides that any principal officer wishing to re-contest or contest for another post must resign from his current post at least one month before the election.” He said new elections are needed and a caretaker committee cannot remedy the situation.

The president’s bold assertion is commendable because it is wrong to trample on the laws of any institution that portrays itself as democratic.  APC rode to power on the mantra of fighting impunity and disrespect for the laws. Facts that emerged after the APC leaders’ tenure elongation bid indicates it was a self serving venture promoted by some interests within the party APC who wanted to use the outgoing leadership to deal with “recalcitrant” politicians in their states. But APC’s NEC claimed that the extension was to avoid the crisis that would trail election processes especially in states with factional crises. 

But instead of the extension to solve problems, it added more because some members led by Ademorin Kuye and Are Mutiu (Lagos); Sani Mayanchi (Zamfara) and Machu Tokwat (Kaduna) sought an ex parte order of the Federal High Court, in Abuja directing NWC members to show cause why the court should not bar them from parading themselves as party national officers after June 30. Joined as respondents in the suit were Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC, Chief Oyegun and National Organising Secretary Osita Izunaso.

Besides, it was reported that APC National Leader Senator Bola Tinubu resolved to back out from the assignment that President Buhari gave to him to reconcile party members. INEC should have wielded its stick to call APC to order. That President Buhari spoke boldly at the NEC meeting showed that he too saw the dangers ahead, more so as 2019 elections are near.

There is no short cut to the doing the right thing and political expediency must never replace the rule of law. Internal democracy is sin qua non to the survival of any political party and the APC must take this as sacrosanct. APC must convince Nigerians that it is living up to its words.  It must now organise congresses and conventions before June 30 when the tenure of the Oyegun-led NWC expires.