[DEVELOPING STORY]
The house of the All Progressives Congress (APC) seems to be falling apart, and may soon not be able to hold anymore. This is a reasonable the fallout from the Wednesday decision of the Supreme Court, irrespective of the fact that it was in favour of the party.
Eyitayo Jegede the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 10th October governorship election in Ondo state had approached the Court of Appeal in Akure following his loss at the poll and the tribunal.
His prayer to the court was to sack Akeredolu because his nomination form was signed by a sitting governor, against the spirit and letters of the provisions of Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as the constitution of the APC.
Governor Akeredolu narrowly escaped the hammer of the Supreme Court through a split judgement. Out of the 7 justices who heard the case, while 3 of the justices agreed with the PDP candidate, the other 4 provided him a leeway to victory over Eyitayo Jegede.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Governor Akeredolu once again vied for the Ondo State governorship position in the 2020 election having served in the same office for nearly a full term. In his first election to the office, he defeated the same Eyitayo Jegede who was also the candidate of the PDP.
In 2020, Akeredolu was once again nominated by the APC for a second term in the office. This also once again pitched him against Eyitayo Jegede also of the PDP amongst other candidate, whose candidacy mostly were nominal in nature.
The Supreme Court finally settled the Ondo governorship tussle on Wednesday, through a seven-man panel of justices which upheld the re-election of Governor Akeredolu in a majority judgement of four against three.
However, this split judgement have now opened a can of worms for the APC, and possibly a flood gate of more litigations challenging the party`s caretaker arrangement headed by Mai Mala Buni, the governor of Yobe State.
BASIC FACTS
- At the time of governor Akeredolu`s nomination by the APC, the governor of Yobe State Mai Mala Buni was doubling as the Acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this position he signed the nomination form of governor Akeredolu.
- This eventually became a major ground for the Jegede to contest Akeredolu`s victory after the election. He lost at the level of the Tribunal. His appeal to the Court of Appeal was also dismissed by the whole 5 judges who heard the case.
- Akeredolu also won at the Supreme Court through a split judgement of 4 to 3 justices.
- This split judgement have now opened a can of worms for the APC, and possibly a flood gate of more litigations challenging the party`s caretaker arrangement headed by Mai Mala Buni, the governor of Yobe State.
- There is currently a raging power tussle in APC which pitches the Senator Ahmed Tinubu led interest against those who does not want him as APC presidential candidate for the 2023 election.
- There are those who believe that the anti Tinubu group are those championing the APC caretaker arrangement because of the fear that Tinubu`s group has enough support to install a loyal leadership for the presidential ambition of the former governor of Lagos State.
- APC is currently planning a national congress under the leadership of the caretaker committee, but there are those who does not believe in the ability of the Mai Mala Buni led committee to provide a fair playing ground for members to freely elect their representatives.
- So, the atmosphere is thick and full of uncertainty, as the Supreme Court split decision gives aggrieved members some leeway to challenge the APC caretaker committee leadership.
NOTABLE QUOTES
An Abuja based legal practitioner, Kayode Ajulo, in a statement titled, “Why Mai Mala Buni Should Step Down”, noted the following: “Without prejudice to the ratio decidendi of the majority decision of the Court, it is imperative to state prestissimo and very clearly too that with the unanimous position of the apex court that it appears the actions of the APC in permitting a sitting governor as the interim chairman of the party is in violation of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is my sincere view that the Interim Chairman of the All Progressive Congress should immediately step down.
“My humble but cosmic review of the judgment comes with an indication that the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, has to vacate his seat, as the Chairman of APC with immediate effect.
“The provision of Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) is clear and unambiguous to the effect that “The governor shall not, during the period when he holds office, hold any other executive office or paid employment in any capacity whatsoever.”
WHAT WE ARE WATCHING
This is indeed a developing and very life story. The battle to stop Ahmed Tinubu`s presidential ambition is thickening, but this development may be a boost to his group and his effort to remain strong and unflinching in the race.
So we are watching the story to see what next the APC caretaker committee and the anti-Tinubu group will do to further advance their course.
We are also monitoring this story because the APC caretaker committee is proposing the idea of a consensus candidate for the 2023 election. This has not gone well with the entire party hierarchy.
Consensus candidate is a political strategy very well used for personal gain by the former governor of Lagos State in his home state where he lives larger than life. So, how his group responds and what they do next will be monitored by the Palydom News To Watch team. We shall keep our readers informed of any development.
FOLLOW THE NEWS
This news is still developing and we are monitoring it for you. In the days and weeks to come, we shall continue to monitor the situation and we will continue to update our readers with the latest developments. Please let us know what part of this news that is of interest to you. Let us know what you wish to know as things develop. Also, avail us with any information that is available to you that may help us better inform our readers. You can signup to The Intel newsletter to receive expert analysis on this news and things that matter to you.
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