By PETER OKUTU
ABAKALIKI—THE All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA yesterday declared that the party lacked the constitutional capacity to field candidate for the forthcoming 2013 governorship election in Anambra State.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Bernard Akoma, the party insisted that any candidate fielded during the election would be disqualified if his or her candidature was challenged by the opposition in any court of law.
According to him, the APGA led by Chief Maxi Okwu has already dragged Chief Victor Umeh, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to a Federal High Court in Abuja challenging their eligibility to present a candidate for APGA in the Anambra poll.
His words: “Despite the emergence of Dr. Obiano as the Victor Umeh/Peter Obi-led APGA candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State, the party may after all contest the governorship race in the state.
“The sharp division in the party notwithstanding should Umeh-led APGA faction goes ahead to endorse any candidate for the election, such candidate stands to be disqualified if his candidature is challenged
in any court of law.
“APGA constitution states that a person is entitled to occupy any position in the party for a maximum of two tenures of four years each.
“The current national secretary of APGA, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, was elected the Secretary of the party January 10, 2003. By August 2013, Shinkafi will be spending his 10th year and seven months in the same position as the secretary of the party.
“This is over two clear years above his statutory right to such office in the party. Should the same Shinkafi and Umeh who was also not properly elected to the office of the national chairman according to the constitution of the party forward any candidate’s name to INEC for recognition, it will amount to building a house on sand dome.”
“This is because anything that is erected on illegality can hardly stand the test of time. For instance, President Olusegun Obasanjo cannot endorse document on behalf of the Nigeria government after
exhausting his tenure stipulated by law.
“Should Umeh/Obi APGA continue to play ostrich, they may just be wetting the ground for the aggrieved members of the party as well as its opponents who are just waiting to sue the ass out the life of the party. Already the All Progressives Grand Alliance led by Chief Maxi Okwu has dragged Chief Victor Umeh, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to a Federal High Court in Abuja challenging their eligibility to present candidate for APGA in the Anambra poll.
“In suit no: FHC/ABJ/CS/563/2013 dated 18th August, 2013 filed by Oba Maduabuchi, lawyer to Maxi Okwu and four others elected with him in the party’s national convention on 8th April, 2013 in Awka, the plaintiffs averred that the APGA convention and election on 10th February 2011, in Awka in which Umeh was re-elected National Chairman and Shinkafi National Secretary including other members of the National Working Committee was by voice vote contrary to Article 18(4) of the party constitution that stipulates elections shall be by secret ballots only.
“The plaintiffs also asked the court to determine, “Whether the 2nd defendant (Shinkafi) can still validly occupy the position of National Secretary of APGA in 2013 when the constitution of the party providesa maximum tenure of eight years and he was first elected as National Secretary of the party on 10th January 2013, ten years ago.
“The plaintiffs prayed the court for an order directing Umeh, Shinkafi and all the officers purportedly elected with them in February 2011 national convention by voice vote to vacate their various offices as
their “election” was not in accordance with Article 18(4) of the APGA constitution which prescribes that elections shall be by secret ballot”.
Showing posts with label APGA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label APGA. Show all posts
Wednesday 4 September 2013
Saturday 27 July 2013
Obi, Umeh have failed us - APGA
BY DAPO AKINREFON
National Working Committee of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, says the moves to reconcile Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and APGA’s National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, does not enjoy its support.
In a statement by APGA’s National Publicity Secretary, Benard Akoma, the NWC expressed worry over what it described as the refusal by Obi and Umeh to involve them in the truce bid..
The committee said failure to address the internal problems that has plagued the party will prolong the crisis in APGA.
The NWC said: “We the eighteen members of the National Working Committee of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, have noticed with dismay recent purported reconciliation romance on APGA crisis between the Executive Governor of Anambra State and the embattled National Chairman of our party, Victor Umeh, filtering into our ears. Though none of them has made any effort to get us involved in their moves, we wish to state unequivocally that the move does not enjoy our support and both parties are on their own.”
The committee noted that APGA’s challenges had gone beyond a “chummy relationship between Obi and his brother Umeh to addressing the pertinent issue that borders on the very survival of the party.”
National Working Committee of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, says the moves to reconcile Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and APGA’s National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, does not enjoy its support.
In a statement by APGA’s National Publicity Secretary, Benard Akoma, the NWC expressed worry over what it described as the refusal by Obi and Umeh to involve them in the truce bid..
The committee said failure to address the internal problems that has plagued the party will prolong the crisis in APGA.
The NWC said: “We the eighteen members of the National Working Committee of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, have noticed with dismay recent purported reconciliation romance on APGA crisis between the Executive Governor of Anambra State and the embattled National Chairman of our party, Victor Umeh, filtering into our ears. Though none of them has made any effort to get us involved in their moves, we wish to state unequivocally that the move does not enjoy our support and both parties are on their own.”
The committee noted that APGA’s challenges had gone beyond a “chummy relationship between Obi and his brother Umeh to addressing the pertinent issue that borders on the very survival of the party.”
Anambra election: Okwu faction disowns Umeh’s timetable
By Chris Ochayi
ABUJA - The Barrister Maxi Okwu’s led faction of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, yesterday said that the timetable released by the National Secretary of the party, Alhjai Sani Shinkafi for the November 16, 2013 Governorship election in Anambra State was fake.
Barrister Okwu, who claimed in a statement issued in Abuja that his faction was the authentic, therefore, warned aspirants against picking the N2 million for expression of interest announced by Alhaji shinkafi.
According to him, “the attention of the All Progressives Grand Alliance has been drawn to a purported party timetable released by one Alhaji Sani Shinkafi demanding N2 million for expression of interest form from aspirants wishing to contest the 16th November, 2013 Governorship election in Anambra State.
“The authentic APGA leadership with Barr. Maxi Okwu as National Chairman dissociates itself from the fake timetable and N2million fee imposed on aspirants and warn party members to be wary of the antics of Shinkafi and Chief Victor Umeh, who are yet to account for over N400 million sales of nomination forms for the 2011 general election.
“The real reason for the hasty release of the fake timetable is to hoodwink unsuspecting aspirants to pay the N2 million non-refundable expression of interest form when INEC is yet to decide on the authentic APGA leadership following two contradictory Court of Appeal judgments, one upholding the 8th April, 2013 popular national convention which produced the Okwu-led executive while the other purportedly restored Umeh as chairman.
“It is unfortunate that Shinkafi who was elected APGA National Secretary on 10th January, 2003 National convention is still parading himself in that position for over 10 years contrary to the party constitution which stipulates four-year renewable tenure for its officers.
“Chief Victor Umeh assumed the position of National Chairman on 15th December 2004, and has been parading himself as chairman for nine years. No genuine democrat will stay in office beyond the stipulated four-year tenure. It is a big step backward for our frail democracy.
“This is unacceptable to majority members of the party as demonstrated in the popular 8th April, 2013 convention at Awka duly monitored by INEC.
“We enjoin APGA members particularly aspirants for the forthcoming Local Government and Governorship elections in Anambra State to remain calm while we wait for INEC’s decision on the leadership disagreement.
“At the appropriate time the authentic timetable will be released for aspirants who intend to contest elections on APGA platform,” Okwu said.
ABUJA - The Barrister Maxi Okwu’s led faction of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, yesterday said that the timetable released by the National Secretary of the party, Alhjai Sani Shinkafi for the November 16, 2013 Governorship election in Anambra State was fake.
Barrister Okwu, who claimed in a statement issued in Abuja that his faction was the authentic, therefore, warned aspirants against picking the N2 million for expression of interest announced by Alhaji shinkafi.
According to him, “the attention of the All Progressives Grand Alliance has been drawn to a purported party timetable released by one Alhaji Sani Shinkafi demanding N2 million for expression of interest form from aspirants wishing to contest the 16th November, 2013 Governorship election in Anambra State.
“The authentic APGA leadership with Barr. Maxi Okwu as National Chairman dissociates itself from the fake timetable and N2million fee imposed on aspirants and warn party members to be wary of the antics of Shinkafi and Chief Victor Umeh, who are yet to account for over N400 million sales of nomination forms for the 2011 general election.
“The real reason for the hasty release of the fake timetable is to hoodwink unsuspecting aspirants to pay the N2 million non-refundable expression of interest form when INEC is yet to decide on the authentic APGA leadership following two contradictory Court of Appeal judgments, one upholding the 8th April, 2013 popular national convention which produced the Okwu-led executive while the other purportedly restored Umeh as chairman.
“It is unfortunate that Shinkafi who was elected APGA National Secretary on 10th January, 2003 National convention is still parading himself in that position for over 10 years contrary to the party constitution which stipulates four-year renewable tenure for its officers.
“Chief Victor Umeh assumed the position of National Chairman on 15th December 2004, and has been parading himself as chairman for nine years. No genuine democrat will stay in office beyond the stipulated four-year tenure. It is a big step backward for our frail democracy.
“This is unacceptable to majority members of the party as demonstrated in the popular 8th April, 2013 convention at Awka duly monitored by INEC.
“We enjoin APGA members particularly aspirants for the forthcoming Local Government and Governorship elections in Anambra State to remain calm while we wait for INEC’s decision on the leadership disagreement.
“At the appropriate time the authentic timetable will be released for aspirants who intend to contest elections on APGA platform,” Okwu said.
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