BY BENEDICT NWACHUKWU, ABUJA
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has given approval for conduct of the All Progressives Congress, APC Ward Congresses scheduled to hold today in 34 states and FCT.
Speaking on behalf of the party at a press briefing held at the Buhari House secretariat in Abuja, the member representing the Northeast in the Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Professor Mamman Tahir, said the party sought the advice of the Office of the Attorney General regarding the Supreme Court judgment which has attracted several comments.
Against the backdrop of questions regarding the legitimacy of the CECPC to conduct Congresses, Professor Tahir said the party will follow what the court says regardless of the fear of the people on the Congress.
“Our Congresses are on course, it will hold as scheduled and this Committee is working closely with the Attorney General of the Federation and he has offered advice in this regard that we are on good grounds and we are comfortable with that position. So our programmes will continue to roll on in the normal course of things.
“The business of the law is not about speculating what a court will decide in a particular dispute. We deal with what the court have presently decided on. That is the way the law operates. And people can have fear on anything. And whatever decision anybody takes, it will always be subject to litigations. People are free to test the propriety of any decision. You cannot stop anybody, no matter what it is. But we deal with the present at the moment. As I said, we are going on with the decision of the court. That is what we are working with”, Tahir said.
He added that they have instructed their members on how to conduct the Congresses therefore they don’t foresee any parallel Congresses holding in any state.
“We have sent our officials from the National secretariat to various state headquarters with forms for people to purchase. And as many people as there are willing to purchase forms, they are free to buy them. So there is no limitation. If there is any one who decides to buy form for some people, it is not against our rules. The most important thing is the electorate and the party members electing their leaders.
“So even in a ward, if 100 people buy form, there is no problem with that. At the end of the day, if they are unable to agree on a consensus which is our preferred choice, genuine consensus where all the stakeholders are coming together to agree on who gets what position, they will now go to congress and then elect whoever they wish to elect for any particular position. It is very simple” he explained.
He disclosed that another date has been fixed for Congresses in Anambra and Zamfara states; saying, “Because we have election coming up in Anambra, we don’t want to jeopardize our position there, On Zamfara, they are still doing their validation and continuation of membership registration. So that is the position,” he said.
