A former National Vice Chairman of the Northwest All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr Salihu Lukman has threatened to drag the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to court for breach of the party’s constitution.
Lukman in a letter dated May 21 and addressed to President Bola Tinubu, lamented that meetings of organs as specified by relevant provisions of the APC Constitution are not taking place.
The party chieftain stressed that he was compelled to draw Tinubu’s attention that the ruling party was operating almost blindly without recourse to provisions of the APC Constitution.
To this end, Lukman gave a two-week ultimatum to the NWC of the party to activate all organs of the APC in line with the party’s constitution or he would be forced to seek court action against the party.
Lukman said that with such reality, the NWC of the party has appropriated the powers of all organs and in its name, the National Chairman is taking discretionary decisions.
He pointed many of the decisions taken not only violate sections of the APC Constitution but also undermine Sections 221 — 229 of Part Il of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended as well as the Electoral Act 2022.
He pointed out that decisions which established organs of the party are expected to take, are being taken by individual leaders outside those organs.
He noted that one of the critical organs, the Board of Trustees, which was renamed the National Advisory Council, has not been inaugurated since the formation of the APC in July 2013.
Lukman said: “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.
“I want to kindly demand that every necessary initiative should be started between now (May 21, 2024) and June 7, 2024, to activate all organs of the APC in line with the extant provisions of the party’s constitution.
“Failure to do that will compel me as a patriotic Nigerian and loyal party member who has paid his dues to seek legal redress. Democracy is meaningless without functional political parties.”