By Ibrahim Sheriff (Gold)
There might be no end in sight to the crisis rocking the Kwara state Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC as the Chairman of the Party’s Caretaker Committee in Kwara state, Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa drags Governor of Yobe state who doubles as the Chairman, Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, CECPC of APC, Mai Mala Buni, his Niger and Osun state counterparts Sanni Bello and Gboyega Oyetola to Court.
In a suit before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Bolarinwa wants the Court to determine the legality or otherwise of the appointments of the three (3) serving Governors as Chairman and members of the CECPC of APC, having regards to the provisons of sections 183 and 223 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Bolarinwa in the suit, also queried the legality of the appointments of Chairman and members of the APC CECPC without the ratification of the Board of Trustees of Party, as provided under Article 18(II) of the Constitution of the APC.
Recall that on 25th June, 2020, the National Executive Council of the APC had, during an emergency meeting, removed the former National Chairman of the Party, Adams Oshiomole along with members of National Working Committee and set up the CECPC Chaired by Gov Mai Mala Buni, with his Niger and Osun state counterparts, Executive Director of NEXIM Stella Okotete and Special Assistant to President Buhari on Youth Matters, Ismaeel Buba Ahmed among others as members.
Bolarinwa also challenged the legal validity of his purported removal from office as the Kwara state Chairman of the APC and consequent appointment of Abdullahi Samari, having regards to section 183 of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria (as amended), section 223 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Article 17 (IV) of the APC Constitution.
Also questioning the legal capacity of the Buni-led APC CECPC, Bolarinwa pray the Court to grant an Order of interlocutory injunction restraining Gov. Buni and the APC CECPC from conducting the Local Government Congresses and State Congresses slated for 18th September, 2021 or any other APC Congresses pending the determination of the suit.
Bolarinwa also asked the Court to restrain Abdullahi Samari from further acting or parading himself as the Acting Chairman of the Kwara state Chapter of APC.
