There are clear indications that fear has gripped the Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress over the current controversy regarding the elongation of the tenure of the National Working Committee of the ruling party.
Already, the party at the national level has set up a technical committee to take a critical look at the issue after which party chieftains, including President Muhammadu Buhari, raised the alarm that the elongation of the tenure of the NEC members might lead to negative legal implications.
The NEC meeting of the APC, held on February 27, voted to grant one-year tenure extension to all the 30 state executives across the country to enable them to prosecute the 2019 elections.
But legal analysts have argued that the move to extend the tenure of the APC NEC may lead to a serious problem for the party in the nearest future.
We’re all disturbed because our election is fast approaching
A lawyer, Mr. Jide Adeshina, in his legal interpretation, maintained that the party’s initial moves, which totally negated the party’s constitution and Nigerian constitution, might invalidate the NEC’s future decision on any candidate nominated for election.
Adeshina said, “Article 30 of the APC Constitution states: The constitution and the schedules hereto can be amended only by the National Convention of the party.
“The process of amending the constitution is also expressly provided in Article 30 subsection 2. Notice of any proposed amendment by any member or organ of the party shall be given to the National Secretary at least 14 days before the date of the National Convention. The Notice shall be in writing, shall contain a clear statement of the proposed amendment and reasons for it.”
But this development is now generating serious concern among APC stalwarts in Ekiti State.
A chieftain of the party in the state, Adeleye Seun, who spoke with our correspondent, said “Already, we are all disturbed by the situation of things because our election is fast approaching. As it is, our primaries will come early May, and if the issue is not resolved before then, everyone will be buried in fear of the future because if the current executives conduct primaries and they are not supported with the constitution, that means we are playing with fire.”
Adeleye, however, pleaded with the party national leaders to resolve the issue on time in order to avoid a situation where the state chapter of the party would be used as a scapegoat.
