Our constitution promotes gestation period – Yabagi Sani
You have been the national chairman of your party the Action Democratic Party, ADP since inception, why? I have been the chairman of the party all these while because our party, like others registered within the same period, if you look critically, it is the same chairmen that has been chairing the parties, they are […]
You have been the national chairman of your party the Action Democratic Party, ADP since inception, why?
I have been the chairman of the party all these while because our party, like others registered within the same period, if you look critically, it is the same chairmen that has been chairing the parties, they are still the same Chairmen that brought the parties to be. For example, if you look at YPP. But the other one that had problems was NRM, that I am aware of. Most of the parties that came into the political scene the same time as us, same with ADP, have had only one chairman since then.
Also, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC itself is aware that in the constitution of our party for instance, we are allowed to have a gestation period. Where by the National Working Committee, NWC that brought the party into limelight is allowed to manage it for a certain amount of time.
The issue is that if the party is allowed to be subjected to the rigorous process of elections, conventions and others, you might end up destroying the baby at that point. Changing the leadership at that infant stage of the party may not augur well for the party. This is not only for the ADP but other similar political parties.
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Is what you have just explained constitutional?
Yes, it is in the constitution of most of these political parties. In our party for instance it is in the constitution that at least you are allowed to have your convention on a non elective basis. All the members can agree that, let the structure of the party be formed, and when you have the structures formed, you cannot go into elections immediately, otherwise you will scatter the party and its structures.
So, in a way, it strengthens democracy that is why some of us are still there as chairmen of these political parties. We had our first elective election last two years. All the other elections we had were not elective. Also, we just wake up to do it, it is stated in our constitution. If you look at it you will see it there. I want Nigerians to know that it is not that we are sit tight leaders or that, it is what we want to do, it is not so.
Even common sense dictates that you can’t just form a party and then start changing leadership. The party will not have a strong base. The party was formed in 2017.
Since 2017, how often have you held NWC, NEC and BoT meetings?
We meet always, for example, we meet every two years. We meet to have our congresses. In our constitution you can have non-elective congresses on two consecutive times, every two years which is four years.
Then after that any other convention will be elective. The last one, we had was the elective convention. So, I’m supposed to run my four years after four years, If I’m elected again. If I am not then somebody else will take over.
When will the current term you are serving end?
It will elapse, in 2027, We had this Congress two years ago. By the constitution I can run two terms in office. I am permitted to run again. So, if I like I can still run again but if I don’t want to someone else can contest.
What does the ADC constitution say, because at a point, you were also the presidential candidate of the party..?
That also is in correspondence with our constitution, that is what our constitution says; that you can be the chairman and be the candidate. All the constitution says is that you cannot hold two elective positions at the same time. You can hold two positions but not elective positions. Once you are elected as the president You have to relinquish the chairmanship position. But if you are just a candidate, that doesn’t make you a President.
What we are doing is in the interest of the party and democracy. Look at it, you form a party, in fact, before you get structures in place, it takes a while, takes a lot of money, energy and sacrifice.
But are there no qualified persons within your party that can hold this position?
You know better, that people don’t want to stay In parties that are out of power. They come and go. They are not consistent. But myself and other people that formed the party, have to be consistent So that at least we build it and after that, you can go.
What do you think about such situation, does it engender accountability?
Accountability? There is accountability. Nigerians are free to check our Constitution, what does the Constitution say? Constitution is the decision of the parties, at their convention Which is very clear, everybody is there to say yes, this is what we want for our party.
What are the challenges faced by opposition parties in Nigeria?
Well, I can speak about the opposition parties, like you know, we are approaching 2027, or by the Electoral Act amendments, can we say in 2026, when the process itself will start. Like you know, there has been a lot of agitations against the sitting government and the widespread disaffection amongst the populace is supposed to be a kind of catalyst that opposition parties can used to effect a change democratically.