Fresh crisis rocks APC over NWC appointments
…Kogi, C’river, Abia APC reject new appointees
…Police, protesters face off
Ahead of the inauguration of the new members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the State chapters of the party have protested the new appointments.
Recall that the party recently added six members to its fold in line with the directives of its National Executive Committee (NEC).
NEC had at its last meeting ceded part of its powers to the NWC to allow the party’s administrative organ fill vacant NWC and zonal positions.
The announcement of the new officials was made by the Party’s National Secretary, Sen. Ajibola Basiru during a media briefing on the outcome of the NWC meeting held at the APC National Secretariat.
The new officials are the Deputy National Chairman, North, Ali Bukar Dalori (Borno State); National Vice Chairman, North West, Garba Datti Muhammad (Kaduna State); National Legal Adviser, Prof. Abdul Karim Abubakar Kana (Nasarawa State); National Welfare Secretary, Donatus Nwankpa (Abia State); National Woman Leader, Mary Alile Idele, PhD (Edo State); and, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko (Kogi State). Also, the North Central Zonal chapter of the party has a new Zonal Organizing Secretary, Ikani Shuaibu Okolo (Kogi State).
The Kogi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has however rejected the names announced by the NWC of the party as replacements for the former Deputy National Publicity Secretary and the former Zonal Organising Secretary, who both resigned recently.
Explaining that they were wrongly replaced with names that did not emanate from the state chapter, the Kogi APC said the actions of the NWC is a clear contravention of the party’s constitution.
The statement noted that “consequent upon the resignation of the two officers, the Kogi State All Progressives Congress, APC, under the leadership of Governor Yahaya Bello, met to ratify and forward names of replacements for the national and zonal officers that left the party.”
He noted that the state chapter ratified Yahaya Ade Ismail as the new Deputy National Publicity Secretary and Isiaka Musa as the Zonal Organising Secretary for North Central.
The Chairman said in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution, it communicated the ratified replacements to the NWC through the North Central Zonal Chairman of the party.
“To our dismay, the National Working Committee came up with strange names which didn’t pass through the state chapter nor the North Central Zone of the party and purportedly went ahead to ratify them, citing ‘Presidency interest’ as the rationale for their action.
“We strongly reject the action as we will not be parties to the blatant and flagrant violation of our party’s constitution.
“Our belief in Mr President as a man who respects the Constitution of our party and a man who believes in due process is unshaken in the face of the current confusion foisted on the party by people dropping the name of the President to achieve their selfish aims.
“We call on the National Working Committee of the party to reverse the unconstitutional replacements done on our behalf without our ratification or approval, and revert to our ratified list as they occupy those offices on behalf of the state chapter of our party.
“We have delivered Kogi State to the APC and the least we will expect is for the party hierarchy to continue to support us to achieve greater heights.
“The Kogi State chapter of the APC, therefore, rejects the decision of the National Working Committee in its entirety and urge it to follow the constitution of our party and the due process our party is known for.
“We are confident that the interest of the party is for Kogi State to remain a stronghold of the APC, especially now that we march towards November 11 to retain the state,” the statement read.
Also, protesters from the Cross Rivers State Chapter of the Party protested the reassignment of the National Women Leader position which the state held before to Edo state.
The Cross Rivers state chapter of the party insisted that the recent allocation of the National Women Leader position, previously occupied by Dr. Betty Edu from Cross Rivers State to Dr. Mary Idele from Edo State was against the party’s principles.
The protestors, bearing placards and raising their voices in unison, expressed their dissatisfaction with the reshuffling of key positions within the party hierarchy.
In a statement issued by the Abia state APC Chairman, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu and Secretary, Chief Chidi Avajah, the State leadership of the party called on the NWC to reverse itself and respect the party’s constitution.
The duo pointed out that the constitution of the party is very clear on who has the mandate to nominate a replacement In case of vacancy. And this, according to them, falls squarely on the State Executive Committee.
“The party pointed out that following the death of the last occupant of the office, Mr. F.N. Nwosu, the State chapter, in line with its mandate in APC Constitution, nominated its State Organising Secretary, Mr. Obinna Atuonwu and forwarded the same to both Zonal and National organs of our great party for ratification.
“We are deeply worried that some stranger elements are trying to destabilise the Abia State chapter of the party after their treachery and betrayals during the last election.”
It noted that it was this same group that had initially wanted to foist a suspended member of the party as replacement and “they were resisted. And when they realised their folly they now changed to their present candidate.”
“It’s not in the interest of the party that some chieftains of the party will just gang up and share the party’s office using Mr. President’s name. But we know that the President as a consummate politician respects the constitution of the party and due process.
“Mr. President’s name should not be vainly used. We, therefore, call on the National Working Committee of our great party as men of honour to refuse to be used in this unconstitutional and illegal voyage which is aimed at the usurpation of the powers and mandate of the State chapter of the party,” the Abia APC stated.
While affirming its loyalty to Mr. President, the National Chairman and the National Working Committee, the Abia APC urged “the national secretariat of the party “to reverse this ugly division which will not stand the test of moral, political and judicial scrutiny.”
The Abia APC reinstated its belief that common sense and the constitution of the party should prevail, noting that Obinna Atuonwu remains the duly nominated National Welfare Secretary from Abia State.
In a related development, as protests gathered momentum at the APC National headquarters yeaterday, there was a faceoff between the protesters and a team of anti-riot policemen leading to clashes that underscored the intensity of emotions.
The Policemen ended up restraining the movement of the protesters and restricted access to the APC Headquarters.
