The Ruling All Progressives Congress APC appears set to punish members who are yet to withdraw their court cases as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Buhari had at the party’s last National Executive Council ( NEC) meeting which sacked the former National Executive Council, on June 24, instructed members of the party to withdraw any litigation against the party or its members pending in court and also not to institute any case against the party or any member.
The NEC which appointed a Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Commitee, charged the commitee led by Mai Mala Buni,governor of Yobe State,to ensure that members complied with the directives
In line with the directive, the caretaker committee,set up a reconciliation commitee headed by Governor Bello of Niger Stare, whose effort led to the resolution of the crisis in Cross Rivers and Enugu states
However,, the crisis in Zamfara,Imo,Rivers Edo,Delta and others are lingering and overwhelmed with court cases, but it might not be for long if the threat to enforce disciplinary action against erring members by the National Caretaker Committee is anything go by.
In an effort to return peace to the party, the Caretaker Committee has issued a two week ultimatum to all members who are in court to either withdraw their cases and embrace the reconciliation moves or face the wrath of the party.
The Committe is said to have written to the state chairmen of the party instructing them to furnish the National Headquarters with the number of cases in court in their states, and those who have complied with the withdrawal of their cases.
A letter reportedly signed by the Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Senator James Akpan Udoedehe,reads” Further to our letter dated 1st of July,2020, wherein we directed that you coordinate with your state legal advisers and secretaries to encourage all members who have instituted any matter in court against the party to withdraw same and steps to be taken towards reconciliation.”
“It is however with dismay that several state chapters have not yet sent their reports in line with our request.”
“In view of the above, you are hereby directed to forward to the National Secretariat, within ,14 days of the receipt of this letter, the following list of all litigation between party members in your state chapter.”
” Also to be submitted to the party secretariat as requested through the letter are Documentary evidence of compliance with National Executive Committee directive in withdrawal of all pending litigation and named of litigants who have refused to withdraw from the court any matter, which may have been filed against the party in your state”
It will be recalled that failure to adequately addressed the party’si internal crisis led to loss of elections in states that were once governed by the party.
