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Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, has initiated steps seen as taking over total control of the All Progressives Congress (APC) structure.
Tinubu asked the APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, to liaise with his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, on party activities.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThis is even as the party meetings like the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, cannot be scheduled by the committee members headed by the national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, in line with the party’s constitution, without the approval of the president.
In a memo dated 9th August 2024, Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, informed Ganduje that the president has granted an approval for the scheduling and convening of APC NEC meeting.
According to the memo, the President directed the national chairman to fix the NEC meeting between the first week and 19th September 2024 when he will be available.
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In the memo sighted by Prime Business Africa, Mr Gbajabiamila informed Ganduje that the president directed him to include as one of the agenda for the NEC meeting, the consideration of a date for the non-elective National Convention to be held before the end of the year 2024.
“I am directed by the president to inform you that he has granted approval for the scheduling and convening of a meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party,” part of the memo read.
“The President has confirmed his availability for the NEC meeting between the dates of 5th September 2024 and 19th September 2024.
“Furthermore, the president has directed that the agenda for the NEC meeting include among other things the consideration of a date for non-elective National Convention to be held before the end of the year 2024.”
In the memo also, Ganduje was asked to liaise with the chief of staff regarding any development or necessary clarification related to the scheduling of the meeting.
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There are concerns that the president’s approach amounts to undue interference and control of the party’s structure against democratic principles.
According to APC Constitution, although the president and vice president of the country who are members of the party are also members of the NEC, the decision to fix a date for the NEC meeting is not a unilateral decision of the president.
Also, the APC constitution did not expressly state that incumbent president who is also a member of the party must give approval before NEC meeting date will be fixed as he is not the only member of NEC.
Article 25B(i) of the APC Constitution says: the National Executive Committee meeting “shall hold every quarter and or at any time decided by the National Chairman or at the request made in writing by at least two-third of the members of the National Executive Committee provided that not less than fourteen (14) days notice is given for the meeting to be summoned.”
Article 25(B)(ii) of the APC constitution also stipulated that an emergency NEC meeting can be convened provided that seven days notice is given to all that are entitled to attend.
It said: “Without prejudice to Article 25(B)(i) of this Constitution the National Working Committee may summon an emergency National Executive Committee meeting at any time, provided that at least seven (7) days notice of the meeting shall be given to all those entitled to attend.”
