Buhari attended illegal all progressives congress executive council meeting, says party’s faction

The Hilliard Eta-led 18 members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the troubled ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that the virtual meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) attended by President Muhammed Buhari was illegal.

Penpushing reports that, the members who refused to attend the controversial meeting argued in a statement that the meeting violated the party’s constitution, quoting Article 25 (B) of the party constitution.

The aggrieved members, believed to be loyal to the party’s erstwhile national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, and national leader, Bola Tinubu, therefore   challenged the right of the Deputy National Secretary of the party, Victor Giadom, to convene the National Executive Council(NEC) meeting.

Penpushing further reports that, the faction,  announced its readiness to challenge the National Executive Council(NEC) meeting and its outcome in court, adding that they  are consulting with their allies and lawyers before disclosing their final steps.

“Article 25(B) of the Constitution of the APC is explicit that only the National Chairman or the National Working Committee (NWC) is given the prerogative of summoning meetings of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Party cither for statutory quarterly meetings or for emergency meetings. The same provision of the constitution makes it compulsory for a notice of minimum of 14 days in respect statutory quarterly meetings and 7days in respect of an emergency meeting.

“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 a team of lawyers on the next line of action,” the statement signed by Mr Eta and the party’s acting national secretary, Waziri Bulama, stated. They said the statement was released on behalf of 18 sacked members of the NWC.

Penpushing also reports that, the National Executive Council (NEC) at the end of the meeting appointed a caretaker committee to manage the affairs of the party until a convention is held to elect new National Working Committee (NWC) members.

The President in his speech at the controversial meeting had called for the dissolution of the National Executive Council (NEC) and equally cautioned members against taking the party to court, while he ordered those who had done so to withdraw such cases.

“The directive had been issued before, unfortunately, some members failed to heed the directive. Thus, at this time, it must be made a Resolution of the Party which must be effectively enforced with dire consequences for members who choose to ignore the directive,” Buhari said.

Penpushing reports that,  Yobe State Governor, Mai-Mala Buni chairs the caretaker committee, but in swift response the sacked National Working Committee (NWC) members have  rejected their sack, a move which  is believe could further tear the ruling party apart.