2023: Zoning controversy lingers as PDP reschedules NEC meeting
The Supreme Court will today deliver its judgement on the crisis rocking the Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Daily Trust reports that the party has two factions in the state and while one is loyal to the state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, another which is called the G-7 is led by a former governor of the state, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau.
The appellants in the suit at the apex court are Musa Chola and 1,319 others while the respondents are the APC, Governor Mai Mala Buni, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, Olayide Adewale Akinremi, Senator Abba Ali, Dr Tony Macfoy, Auwalu Abdullahi, Usman Kaita, Adebayo Iyaniwura and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Recall that the appellants who are loyalists of the G-7 had secured victory at the court of first instance (High Court) but the victory was short-lived when the Court of Appeal quashed the judgement and returned control of the party to the Governor Ganduje’s group.
Dissatisfied with the decision, the appellants approached the Supreme
Court for the decision to be set aside, but the respondents argued that the appeal at the apex court has become a routine academic exercise.
They (respondents) hinged their argument on the fact that part of the relief being sought by the appellants had to do with the list of delegates for the APC convention, which had since been conducted.
After hearing the appeal on April 8, the five-man panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice Mary Peter-Odili adjourned and reserved judgment.
One of the counsels involved in the case,
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has again rescheduled its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting earlier slated for Tuesday.
The meeting which is expected to fine-tune the opposition party’s preparations ahead of next year’s general elections will now take place on Wednesday, May 11, 2022. however, told Daily Trust that the apex court called them early Thursday to inform them that the judgement was ready and would be delivered on today.
It was gathered that since the news of the date of judgment started filtering, all parties have become agitated with the hope that the judgement would favour them. Residents also said they expect security agencies in the state to beef up security to avoid breakdown of law and order after the judgement.
I’m still leader of G-7 Shekarau
Senator Samuel N. Anyanwu, the National Secretary of the party, in a statement yesterday said the earlier date “clashes with the local government delegate election involving all members of our party,” adding that “all inconveniences are regretted.”
Top among the issues expected to be discussed by the NEC is the vexed issue of zoning threatening the existence of the party.
The party’s 37-member
But a former governor of Kano State and leader of the G-7 faction of the APC in the state, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, has debunked reports insinuating he has dumped the group.
The disclaimer was issued yesterday through his spokesman, Dr Sule Yau Sule, who told Daily Trust the reports were mischievous.
“His Excellency (Shekarau) is still the bonafide leader of the G-7 and there is no action he or any of the group members takes that is not known to all other members,” Sule said.
Zulum dissolves Borno executive council
committee on zoning headed by the Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom had submitted its report to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party led by Dr Iyorchia Ayu, but NEC is expected to make the final decision on the zoning impasse.
Another issue awaiting the NEC decision is the mode of primaries to be adopted in choosing who flies the flag of the party.
Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the dissolution of the Borno State executive council.
The dissolution, which is with immediate effect, was contained in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Administration and General Services, Danjuma Ali, on behalf of Secretary to the State Government and made available to newsmen by the governor’s spokesperson from the press unit of the Government House in Maiduguri.
The members were directed to handover affairs of their offices to permanent secretaries in their ministries.
The statement explained that the dissolution is to create an enabling environment for interested members of the exco to legally participate in the forthcoming primaries and congresses of the APC.