BUHARI CUTS SHORT ELONGATED TENURE OF APC NATIONAL EXECUTIVE

Buhari recalled that,​the motion was duly carried by a majority of members present at the last NEC meeting, stating further that, even though some of party members have since spoken up very vehemently against it, while others have even taken the matter to court.

‘While the APC Constitution, in Article 17(1) and 13.2(B), limits the tenure of elected officers to four years, renewable once by another election, the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), in section 223, also prescribes periodic elections for party executives at regular intervals, which must not exceed four years’.

He added, ‘furthermore, Article 31 of our Party Constitution provides that any principal officer wishing to re-contest or contest for another post, must resign from his current post at least one month before the election

Buhari declared that, in this circumstance, what is expected of is to conduct fresh elections, once the tenure of the current executives approaches its end, adding that a Caretaker Committee cannot remedy this situation, and cannot validly act in place of elected officers.

‘Furthermore, I think if we deviate from the constitutional provisions, we might be endangering the fortunes of our party.  If the tenure of our party executives can be legally faulted, then it means that any nominations and primary elections that they may conduct can also be faulted’.

‘This is not to talk of divisions that would arise, and is already arising within the party, when some of our members feel that they are being denied the right to aspire to executive positions, or that internal democracy is not at play within the party.,​I am therefore of the firm view that it is better to follow strictly the dictates of our party and national constitutions, rather than put APC and its activities at grave risk’.

‘Fortunately, we have already approved a timetable for the holding of congresses and elections.  I think these should be allowed to go forward and all efforts should now be geared towards making them a great success. Once again, I welcome you all to this meeting with the hope that we will promote, always, the highest interest of the party and of our people’.