2023: TENSION IN APC AS ALL PARTY’S CANDIDATES RISK DISQUALIFICATION

There is palpable tension in the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the judgement of an Abuja Federal High Court which nullified the nomination of Governor Isiaka Oyetola and his deputy governorship candidate, Benedict Alabi, for the 2022 Osun State governorship election. 

Justice Emeka Nwite had, while ruling on a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the nomination of Oyetola and Alabi, agreed with the submission of the PDP on the grounds that Governor Mai Mala Buni, who submitted their names to INEC violated the provisions of Section 183 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, both as amended.

The court declared that Governor Mai Mala Buni acted in contravention of the provision of Section 183 of the Constitution when he held dual executive positions as the Governor of Yobe State and the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of APC. 

The provisions of Section 183 read in part: “A Governor, shall not, during the period he holds office, hold any other executive office or paid employment in any capacity whatsoever”.

While the legal representatives of the sitting Osun State Governor had promised to appeal the ruling, its implication was already causing panic in the ruling party.

According to legal opinions on the issue, the ruling, in its current subsisting nature, meant that all actions of Buni, while in office as APC acting boss, remained invalidated. 

These actions include the signing of the nomination of Ekiti Governor-elect Abiodun Oyebanji, as APC candidate for the June 18, 2022 poll, the nominations of candidates for other outlier legislative polls, as well as the conduct of the party’s elective national convention which gave birth to the current NWC, among others. 

The biggest threat posed by the ruling to APC, is the possible consequential disqualification of all its candidates for the 2023 poll, including the presidential ticket of Senator Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, considering that Adamu’s NWC, conducted the primaries.

Once the NWC is invalidated by the reason of Buni’s involvement, all actions of the NWC, would be deemed null and void