Following Thursday’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) wherein members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party were sacked, another round of legal battles looks set to begin after the affected NWC members announced their willingness to follow things up with their lawyers.
The party chieftains faulted the dissolution of the NWC and revealed that they were in consultation with their lawyers and other stakeholders to determine their next line of action while appealing to their supporters to remain calm and law abiding.
In a statement signed by the Hilliard Eta and Arc. Waziri Bulama, factional acting National Chairman and acting National Secretary in the dissolved NWC, the aggrieved party officials announced that they are watching things as they unfold and will make their position known in time.
“The following represents the collective decision of eighteen members of the National Working Committee. “The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) wishes to reiterate its earlier position that Chief Victor Giadom has no authority whatsoever to convene a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our great Party.
“Article 25(B) of the Constitution of the APC is explicit that only the National Chairman of the National Working Committee (NWC) is given the prerogative of summoning meetings of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Party either for statutory quarterly meetings or for emergency meetings.
“The same provision of the constitution makes it compulsory for a notice of a minimum of 14 days in respect of statutory quarterly meetings and 7 days in respect of emergency meetings.
“We note that Chief Victor Giadom had convened and conducted a virtual meeting purportedly to be a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of our Party wherein certain far-reaching resolutions were purportedly reached.
“While the National Working Committee is studying the unfolding drama, it will be consulting with stakeholders and team of lawyers on the next line of action.
“Therefore, all members of our great Party and concerned Nigerians are urged to remain calm pending the outcome of the consultations.”
Listed as parties to the press statement include: Hilliard Etagbo Eta, Hon. Inuwa Abdulkadir, Pastor Bankole Oluwajana, Alh. Ahmed Suleiman Wambal, Hon. Emma Eneukwu, Hon. Adamu Fanda and Hon. Ibrahim Masari. Others include: Hon. Paul Chukwuma, Barr. Emma Ibediro, Sadiq Abubakar, Haj. Salamatu Baiwa Umar-Eluma, Alh. Tajudeen Bello, Mistahu Lawan Didi, Wogu Boms, 15. Babatunde Ogala, Hon. Lanre Issa-Onilu, Arc. Waziri Bulama (NS).
The ruling party has been embroiled in leadership crises since June 16 when an appeal court in Abuja affirmed the suspension of the now dismissed national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.
