(Minna)
Two groups have laid claim to the leadership of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Niger state, two groups as crisis rocking the party depend.
Duaglobalnews reports that one group is led by the embattled state Chairman of the party, Engr.Mohammed Jibrin Imam and the other by the Alhaji Aliyu Saidu-led group who sworn-in on an acting capacity on Wednesday.
While the Imam group accused of financial misappropriation is fighting to remain in control, some members, after an emergency meeting, passed vote of no confidence on the state Chairman.
The members also pointed accusing figure on the Secretary, Barrister Mohammed Liman and Treasurer, Alhaji Shafi’i Abdulrahman over alleged financial misappropriation.
The State APC Secretary, Barrister Mohammad Liman had in a statement to alleged removal of Party State Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer and instituting a new leadership said the Engineer Imam led APC leadership in Niger state remained intact.
“We remain intact as APC officials in Niger State”, the party Secretary, Mohammed Liman in a statement made available to newsmen said over alleged removal of the three officials, described the claims as illegal because, “It is unknown to the party constitution and therefore null and void.”
Liman in clarification following alleged ‘illegal meeting’ held at the APC state secretariat on Thursday, described the said, some members who held the meeting had no mandate for calling for a state meeting in the first place.
“Our removal is null and void because a case was filed on the same issue at High Court, Bida by one Suleiman Abdullahi (State Assistant Youth Leader).
Barrister Liman, who cautioned those who he said arrogated powers to themselves to exercise restraints reminding them that doing so would amount to trying the impossibility.
He said: “The state party executives remained intact, unshakable and nothing has changed, i urge those arrogating powers to themselves to restrain from indulging in such illegality.”
“The party chairman will in due course address all party members in the state.
“By the virtue of Article 21 D (v) at page 86 of the APC Constitution, the said Suleiman Abdullahi has been expelled from the party, having filled a suit against the party and its officials without exhausting all internal avenues for redress.
“An expelled APC member cannot hold any party position during the period of expulsion,the case was heard today,Thursday and adjourned for further hearing next week Friday 10/7/2020.
“The aggrieved members, have failed to follow the party constitution, hence cannot pass a vote of no confidence on the chairman and two others as alleged.
“Article 21 D ( iv) on page 87 of the APC Constitution is very clear and ambiguous.
“It says that for a vote of no confidence to be passed on any official (s) at any level of the party, he or she must be established that he or she has failed to discharge his or her responsibility or neglect or dereliction of duty or misconduct and must be accorded fair hearing.
“Members present in the meeting must vote by two third of majority.”
Liman further emphasized that in case of any misconduct or any of the cases mentioned, a committee must be constituted by the party to investigate the matter, serve allegation notice to that effect but noted that none of those processes were followed as laid down by the party.
He recalled that recently, President Muhammadu Buhari directed, during inauguration of Caretaker Committee of the Party,that all cases file in courts by party members should be withdrawn, adding that that of Niger state was not an exception.
While calling for calm among party members in Niger state, Liman urged them to remain focused and law abiding informing them that the State APC Chairman, Muhammad Jibrin Imam remained the leader and the Secretary, Barrister Mohammad Liman as well the Treasurer Alhaji Shafi’i Abdulrahman positions remained intact.
Meanwhile,the party’s Legal Adviser, Barrister Khalid who swore-in the new executive of the party in the state in acting capacity, pending the time the three positions of; chairman, Secretary and Treasurer will be filled to pilot the affairs of the party.
Khalid gave the names of the Acting Chairman as; Alhaji Aliyu Saidu from Shiroro Local Government Area, Acting Secretary as Suleiman Abdullahi while Suleiman Madaki from, Wushishi Local Government Area is the Acting Tressurer.
Www.Vanguard.com
www.kogistatenews.com.ng
www.thenigerianpost.com.ng
www.punchng.com
www.dailypost.ng
