A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, has asked the court to determine if it was legal for the party’s Caretaker And Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee Chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni, and his counterparts from Niger and Osun states to preside over the affairs of the APC.
The status of the state governors in the CECPC of the party has become a subject of debate since the Supreme Court judgment in the case of Eyitayo Jegede vs Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state.
According to the prayers of Bolarinwa, as serving governors, governors Buni of Yobe, Oyetola Osun, and Bello Niger have allegedly violated sections 183 and 223 of the 1999 Constitution (As amended).
He also asked the court to determine whether or not the appointment of an executive director in Nigeria Export and Import (NEXIM) Bank and a senior special assistant to the President on National Social Investment Programmes into CECPC was legal.
Bolarinwa said the appointment of the two officers was not legal, judging by Article 17(IV) of the APC Constitution and Section 223 of the 1999 Constitution (As amended).
The former Kwara APC Chairman urged the court to determine whether the appointment of the 2nd-and 14th defendants; chairman and members of CECPC; was not legal without ratification of the Board of Trustees of the 1st defendant, having regards to Article 18 (II) of the APC Constitution.
He said the court should take a position on the legality of the decision of the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) on 8th December 2020 to extend the CECPC tenure.
Joined in the suit are APC(1st defendant); the Chairman of CECPC, Mai Mala Buni (2nd defendant); John Akpanudodehe (3rd defendant); Abubakar Bello (4th defendant); Governor Isiaka Oyetola (5th defendant); Stella Okotete(6th defendant); Prof. Tahir Mamman (7th defendant) and Sen. Ken Nanmani(8th defendant).
Others are Sen. Abubakar Yusuf (9th defendant); Akinremi Olaide (10th defendant); Dr. James Lalu (11th defendant); Chief David Lyon (12th defendant); Sen. Abba Ali (13th defendant); Ismaeel Buba Ahmed (14th defendant) and the Acting Chairman of APC Caretaker Committee in Kwara State, Abdullahi Samari.
