Despite the legitimacy controversy trailing the forthcoming All Progressives Congress (APC) ward congresses, the party’s caretaker committee says it will go ahead with the congresses in the country.
Supreme Court delivered a dissenting judgment making Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to have won by a narrow-split decision of 4:3 in the seven-man panel of justices.
The judgment centered on the legitimacy of Governor Mai Mala Buni as the APC national caretaker chairman, asserting that the party’s constitution does not make provision for a caretaker committee and that no governor could hold the position of a Chairman.
Justice Mary Peter Odili who delivered the lead judgment had buttressed that the APC, by Article 17(4) of its constitution outlined how its affairs should be managed and what offices its members could occupy at a time.
However, the Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that it will be going ahead with his congresses in spite of the minority judgment given in Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s victory at the Supreme Court.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, John Akpanudoedehe, national secretary of the APC caretaker committee said apex court’s verdict on Ondo governorship poll has no bearing on the CECPC’s status and its membership.
He urged Party members and aspirants to come out enmasse and peacefully to participate in the ward Congresses on Monday July 31.
Akpanudoedehe said “The clarification is against the backdrop of personal opinions being expressed by some individuals on the status of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and its capacity to conduct the Congresses.
“While it is not our intention to join issues with these commentators, the Supreme Court’s Wednesday judgment affirming the Election victory of the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu SAN had no bearing on the CECPC’s status and its membership.
“Party members and aspirants should therefore come out enmasse and peacefully to participate in the ward Congresses, come Saturday.”
