APC violates own Constitution, fails to hold National Convention

The All Progressives Congress APC may have violated an important provision of its own constitution with regards to holding its national convention to appraise its state of affairs and make necessary adjustments.

Specifically, Article 25 (A)(i) of the APC constitution stipulates that the National Convention of the Party shall be held once in two (2) years at a date, venue and time to be recommended by the National Working Committee and approved by the National Executive Committee subject to the giving of the statutory notices to the Independent National Electoral Commission and at least fourteen (14) days notice given to members eligible to attend.

The Convention is used to ratify policies and programmes of the Party; Elect or remove the national officers of the Party; Elect the Presidential Candidate of the Party; Amend the Constitution of the Party from time to time as the need may arise among other issues.

Since the last convention of the party held in October 2014, same should have held about two months ago.

In spite of the constitutional provision, there is also a caveat stating that the National Executive Committee may summon an emergency National Convention at any time provided at least seven (7) days notice of the meeting shall be given to all members eligible to attend.

The party’s inaction has continued to well up reactions, with the ‘suspended’ Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Timi Frank insisting that the members of the APC National Working Committee be sacked for violating the sacred constitutional provision. He said, “for the inability of the NWC members to hold National Convention of the party as at when due, they should be sacked.”

However, the recently-appointed National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said he was just settling down to his new position and would make the necessary enquiries before speaking on the matter.

“As you know l have just resumed…but l believe that at all times, the party would do the right thing. As l said l would have to check the constitution and get back to you”, he said. Recall that the national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun had in an interview in May said the party would soon hold its convention in order to amend the constitution.

“We have to amend the constitution. We want to have a convention to approve the amendment of the constitution. The convention will take place within the next three months.

The revision of that aspect of the constitution is ready. Notices will go out very soon. So, there is no magic to it. We just want to do things that will be effective; things that will contribute maximally to the party and governance.”