BREAKING: APC Reveals Supreme Court's Alleged Verdict on Buni's Caretaker Committee
- The ruling APC reportedly said it has obtained and reviewed the Supreme Court's verdict on the Ondo governorship election
- Contrary to previous speculations, the party said the verdict did not pronounce its caretaker arrangement illegal
- The verdict was reportedly reviewed by Professor Tahir Mamman, SAN, a member of the Buni-led caretaker committee
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FCT, Abuja - The national caretaker committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chaired by Yobe state governor, Mai Mala Buni, has full legal backing, the ruling party has said.
The ruling party argued that the committee is not against the letters of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act.
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Legit.ng notes that there have been calls for the dissolution of the caretaker committee following the Supreme Court judgement on the election of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state.
However, it was gathered that the party on Wednesday night, August 4, obtained a certified true copy of the judgement of the apex court, Daily Trust reported.
After reviewing the judgement, the party, through a member of the Buni-led committee, Professor Tahir Mamman, SAN, said the committee is “on firm ground to proceed with its mandate”, Blueprint also stated.
According to the APC, the Supreme Court held that:
“That there is no provision in the Electoral Act prescribing any form for forwarding or submission of the sponsored candidate of a political party in an election.
"Sections 177 and 182 of the 1999 Constitution which make provisions for qualifications and disqualification of candidates for governorship election are exhaustive and leave no room for any addition.
“That no other law/act can be relied upon to disqualify a candidate in an election save for the provisions of Section 182 of the 1999 Constitution.
"That non-compliance with INEC directives (regulations, guidelines or manuals) for the purpose of election but which is not contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act shall not of itself be a ground in an election petition.
“Paragraph 17(a) of the First Supplementary to Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections cannot be relied upon as ground to question the return of a candidate in an election.
“That Mai Mala Buni’s position as Acting Chairman of the Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee is not contrary to the provision of Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution as same is on a temporary basis which is not akin to executive office or paid employment as envisaged by Section 183 of the constitution.”
It's the party that sponsored candidates, not a party officer
Meanwhile, the ruling party further argued that the sponsorship of a candidate in an election is that of the party and not the individual officer of the party forwarding the name of the candidate.
It said:
“That the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party is empowered to create, elect and appoint committees (including in the instant CECPC) or any other committee it may deem necessary to act in any capacity
“On the strength of all the above position of the Supreme Court in the instant case and other earlier decided cases cited in support, it is our opinion that the Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) headed by Governor Mai Mala Buni is on firm ground to proceed with its mandate as given by the National Executive Committee of the APC."
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Another legal perspective on the APC debacle
In another report, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ifedayo Adedibe, on Tuesday, August 3, stated that the APC ignored its own rules and regulations by putting the Buni-led executive in place to head the party.
Adedibe said the constitution of the party expressly forbids any of its officials from holding a political office, adding that by appointing the governor of a state to be its chief executive, the APC acted in a manner that risked its activities being null and void.
Legit.ng had earlier reported that stakeholders of the APC were considering an overhaul of the party’s current leadership structure to avoid a legal booby trap after a Supreme Court verdict allegedly questioned the legality of the APC's interim committee.
Source: Legit.ng
