Uncertainty pervades ahead of the planned National Convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, following a suit seeking an order of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court to set aside the February date.
Besides, the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1577/2021, is further challenging the legality of the National Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee led by the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala- Buni.
Defendants in the suit are the All Progressives Congress (APC); Governor Mai Mala-Buni and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
In a 14-paragraphs affidavit, the plaintiff, Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, described herself as the Chairperson and Coordinator of Progressive Youth Movement, a support group of the APC that mobilized youths and ensures that activities of the party are in synergy and in compliance with the provisions of its guidelines and Constitution of both the APC and 1999 constitution.
In the suit filed by Onwuchekwa Onwuchekwa, the plaintiff is also seeking a restraining order against Governor Buni from parading himself as the National Chairman/Caretaker Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee of the APC, while still holding the post of the Governor of Yobe State.
The plaintiff is further pressing for an order empowering the Board of Trustees of the party(BOT) to convene the National Convention of the party in line with Article 17(iv) of the party constitution.
An order restraining all or any other organ of the party from tampering or frustrating the exercise of the power of the BOT from convening the National Convention of the party.
The plaintiff is further seeking an order setting aside the date earmarked or announced by Governor Buni for the holding of the National Convention of the party.
An order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from recognizing Governor Buni as the National Chairman/Caretaker Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party.
The plaintiff had urged the court to declare that having regards to the provisions of section 183 of the 1999 constitution, Article 13:2 (A) (vii) and 17 (iv) of the party’s constitution, the 2nd defendant(Buni), being the current Governor of Yobe state cannot validly hold an executive position in the party at the same time he holds the position as the National Chairman/Caretaker Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party.
A declaration that Buni as the National Chairman/Caretaker Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee cannot validly fixed a date, organize, convene and superintend over the party‘s national convention.
The Governor Buni- led Committee had on November 21, 2021, approved February 2022 as the National Convention of the party without any specific date or timetable.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit which was filed on December 10, 2021.
