The former Director General of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF DG), Salihu Lukman, has threatened to drag the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to court over alleged breaches of laid down rules and regulations of the party.
Lukman, in an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, claimed that the party had breached Sections 221 — 229 of Part Il of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended as well as the Electoral Act 2022.
Lukman, who was APC’s Vice National Chairman North West, accused the leadership of the APC of valuing the principles of consultations and respect of valid agreements contracted through diligent political negotiations.
The Kaduna-born politician promised to retrace his steps if President Tinubu orders a full-scale return to constitutional and legal order in APC between now and June 7 this year.
The ex-PGF DG cited the refusal to hold meetings of organs of the party and the appointment of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje as the national chairman of the party in breach of the zoning formula of the party as some of the infractions committed by the party.
“One of the critical organs, the Board of Trustees, which is renamed National Advisory Council has not been inaugurated since the formation of the APC in July 2013. With such reality. The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party has appropriated the powers of all organs and in its name, the National Chairman is taking discretionary decisions,” he said.
“Democracy is meaningless without functional political parties. When leaders of the ruling party deliberately subvert the provisions of the party’s constitution, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2022, membership of the party is rendered useless.
“As citizens, committed to the development, protection and survival of democracy, it is incumbent on us to initiate every legitimate civil and legal action to enforce compliance with extant provisions of all the laws that regulate the conduct of political parties and their leadership.”
Lukman who claimed that he made several unsuccessful attempts to meet with President Tinubu since last year remarked that it beats his imagination that the APC-lead administration is associated with decisions that outrightly subvert democracy.
The open letter dated May 21, 2024 was addressed to Ganduje, Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, Chairman, Progressive Governors Forum and all past APC national chairmen.