* sets up reconciliation national committee
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has advised aggrieved party members still trying to seek redress in courts to either withdraw all their cases or face disciplinary actions.
APC National Publicity Secretary, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, who gave the advice on Monday, implored them to approach the appropriate party organs with a view to resolving any outstanding disputes.
Issa-Onilu particularly urged the aggrieved members to take full advantage of the reconciliation committees the party had just put in place.
He said the party frowned on the actions of some members who had resorted to litigation as a way of addressing their perceived grievances and disputation without exhausting the party’s dispute resolution mechanism.
“This growing trend is viewed by the party as a manifest indiscipline. The actions, it should be noted, is considered as anti-party as it goes against our party’s constitution.
“For emphasis, according to Article 20, Subsection 10 of our Party’s Constitution, offences against the Party include the following: ‘Filing an action in a Court of Law against the Party or any of its Officers on any matters relating to the discharge of the duties of the Party without first exhausting all avenues for redress provided for in this Constitution.’
“The Party intends to activate constitutional provisions to penalise such members as their action is capable of undermining the party and hurt the Party’s interest.
“APC members should understand that as a progressive party that operates on the principle of change, it is not a matter of choice to keep to the rules.
“We therefore advise such members to take this warning very seriously as failure to comply with the party’s dispute resolution procedures would be met with the stipulated disciplinary actions,” Issa-Onilu said in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday.
Meanwhile, the APC NWC has approved the appointment of a National Peace and Reconciliation Committee for each of the six geo-political zones.
Issa-Onilu said the committee was constituted in recognition of the need to address the post-primary elections disputes.
Gov. Abiola Ajimobi will chairman the North West committee whose membership include Gov. Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar (Bauchi), Gov. Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Sen. Adamu Aliero, Sen. Danjuma Goje, Dr. Jim Nwobodo, and Amb. Fati Balla.
The South East committee has Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state as Chairman. Members are Gov. Samuel Lalong (Plateau), Gov. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Sen. Godswill Akpabio, Alh. Umaru Dembo, Alh. Nasiru Aliko Koki and Mrs. Ify Ugo Okoye.
Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno state chairs the South West committee whose membership include Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai (Kaduna), Gov. Akinwumi Ambode (Lagos), Prof. Modupe Adelabu, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Sen. Ken Nnamani, and Sen. Seida Bugaje.
The North Central committee is headed by Gov. Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe state. Members are Gov. Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Gov. Jibrilla Bindow Adamawa, Chief Pius Akinyelure, Mrs. Vivian Chukwuani, and Chief Audu Ogbeh.
Gov. Rauf Aregbesola leads the South South committee whose membership include Gov. Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Gov. Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger), Sen. Gbemisola Saraki, Hon. Emeka Wogu, Mr. Sullivan Chime, and Mrs. Aleluchi Cookey-Gam.
The North East committee is headed by Gov. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa state. His members are Gov. Aminu Masari (Katsina), Gov. Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Mrs. Jumoke Anifowoshe, Hon. Matthew Omegara, Hajiya Hafsat Mohammed Baba, and Gen. Abdullahi Aboki.
