Tenure elongation: APC summons another caucus, NEC meetings

Barring any last minute change, the national caucus as well as the National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will hold on March 26 -27, 2018.
Blueprint gathered that the major reason for the meetings is to reverse the decision of the last NEC meeting which approved 12 months’ extension for the current party executive at all levels.
There have been various court cases from different state chapters of the party since the NEC approved 12 months’ extension for the party executives, especially the National Working Committee (NWC), led by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
A senior member of the party who asked not to be named in print because he didn’t have the mandate, confided in our correspondent yesterday in Abuja, that the Presidency had realised the negative implications of tenure elongation on the party and had since backed down its support.
The source added that the plot to perfect the tenure elongation by the NWC failed when a letter taken to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could not be submitted.
The source said: “Presidency has approved that another caucus and NEC meetings be held next week Monday and Tuesday.
That I can confirm to you.
And the major reason is to discuss this controversial tenure elongation because Presidency has also realised the implications.
Tenure elongation: APC summons another caucus, NEC meetings “I must tell you that a lot of our leaders are not in support of it.
It also means that all the new comers into the party will not be happy because they are all looking for opportunity to be fully accommodated by becoming either delegate or party executive at various levels.
“So, going into election with the current executive will spell doom for the APC.
If nothing is done urgently, the cases in court might turn against the leaders.
So, there is need for another caucus and NEC meeting to resolve the matter.
” APC spokesman When our correspondent called the APC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi on the phone yesterday, he confirmed that the NEC meeting would hold this month but was not definite on when.
The court cases One of the court cases challenging the decision of the NEC was instituted by Okere Uzochukwu.
In the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/ CS/219/2018, Uzochukwu said he was an aspirant to the state chairmanship position of the party in Imo state and that the tenure extension violated provisions of the constitution, the Electoral Act and the constitution of the APC.
The suit fi led by his lawyer, Nnamdi Okere, has APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as respondents.
Uzochukwu is of the view that the extension of the tenure of offi cials of the party at various levels was “the primary function and responsibility of the national convention” by virtue of the provisions of Article 13 and 13 (3) (ii) of the constitution of the APC 2014 (as amended).
He stated, in a supporting affidavit, that “the plaintiff is a registered and card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress who registered at Ulakwo, OAU ward of Owerri North, membership card number 11013379 and has been participating in all programmes and activities of the party.
” “The said APC membership card is hereby pleaded and shall be relied upon as Exhibit 1.
The plaintiff is aspiring and contesting the Imo state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress slated to hold during the party elective convention in July 2018.
“The four-year tenure of the present National Working Committee, State Working Committee, Local Government Area Executive Committee and Ward Executive Committee of the party will expire in June 2018 and new elective conventions ought to be conducted to elect party leadership at the various levels.”