The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has resolved to expel its stalwarts who organised parallel congresses last Saturday in some states of the federation.
The APC Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee had prior to the exercise, warned party members against organising parallel congresses.
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Secretary of the APC Caretaker Committee, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe in a statement on Friday said the party would sanction “any member or group who organises any purported parallel congress, parallel party organ and or parallel party office.”
But the congresses were conducted amidst rancour, protests and parallel exercises by factions in some states.
Our correspondent reports that some APC bigwigs held parallel congresses in Lagos, Kwara and Oyo States.
Speaking with Daily Trust last night, the APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, confirmed that party leaders who perpetrated the act would be expelled.
“Party members who conducted parallel congresses without the original congress committee known to the national leadership of the party will all be expelled from the party.
“The party will not be lenient to anybody this time around. The party is supreme. We are going to show the supremacy of the party.
“Any congress that took place without a recognised committee, there will be consequences; those who organised it are going to be expelled. We don’t care who you are. Every body must be loyal to the party,” he said.
Excercise a nullity — PDP
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the ward congresses conducted by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a nullity.
The party, in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said “with Buni as chairman, the APC has no valid national executive and as such any congress or any other statutory process conducted by the party under this circumstance remains a nullity.
“While Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) bars a sitting governor from holding any other office while serving as state governor, Article 17(4) of the APC constitution clearly states that, no officer in any organ of the party shall hold executive position and office in government concurrently.”
Effort to get the APC to react to the claim proved abortive as party officials failed to pick their calls.
But the embattled factional secretary of the APC in Niger State, Barrister Mohammed Liman, has said the ruling party is heading for self-destruction.
The secretary, who spoke in Minna, the state capital at the weekend, warned the APC not to continue with the congresses without addressing some pending legal issues.
By Saawua Terzungwe, Hamisu Kabir Matazu (Abuja) & Romoke W. Ahmad (Minna)
