Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not violate any section of its constitution or the 1999 Constitution as amended by setting up a caretaker committee led by Governor Mai Mala Buni.
Umahi made this known while assessing the just concluded APC ward congresses in the state in a statement issued by his Special Assistance on Media and Publicity, Mr Francis Nwaze, on Monday.
Many have suggested that the caretaker chairman of the party, Governor Mai Mala Buni, and his team should step aside urgently as the arrangement of the committee violates Section 183 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) and Article 17(iv) of the APC Constitution.
The suggestion was made in the wake of the split judgment of the Supreme Court in the case filed by Eyitayo Jegede of the PDP against the election of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State.
Former national legal adviser of the All Progressives Congress, Babatunde Ogala (SAN) also said the APC faces ‘grave legal uncertainty’ in view of the judgment.
However, Umahi noted that the caretaker arrangement put together by the party was in line with the party’s constitution, describing it as a legitimate one.
He pointed out that the arrangement did not either violate any section of the party’s constitution nor the 1999 Constitution as amended.
”When that opinion was expressed, I had to go through the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the constitution of the party.
“A section of the party’s constitution empowers the National Executive Committee to set up a caretaker committee and this caretaker committee is to do the job of any of the organs of the party where there is vacancy or vacancies.”
He described the ward congress held on July 31 as peaceful with a massive turnout of party faithful.
Umahi monitored the congress at some centres in Afikpo South local government area while on inspection at the ongoing construction of a 30-span- flyover at Ugwu-Iyere, Ekoli-Edda in Afikpo South LGA of Ebonyi.
The governor further noted that the consensus arrangement was being demonstrated in the field through massive mobilisation and voting.
“The congress yesterday was very wonderful, very peaceful.
“The consensus arrangement was demonstrated on the field by way of massive mobilisation and election was very impressive,” he said.
