Don’t Attend APC’s Convention; PDP Tells INEC

The Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday told the Independent National Electoral Commission to stay away from Saturday’s national convention of the All Progressive Congress.
The opposition party said all processes under the Mai Mala-Buni-led Caretaker Extra-Ordinary Convention Committee are null and void citing a decision of the Supreme Court which indicated that the Buni-led CECPC lacks the legal backing to conduct the affairs of the party.
In a statement on Thursday, PDP said those participate in the national convention on a “voyage to nowhere.”
Saying that the APC is already in a quagmire, the PDP said had the APC listened to one of its ministers, Festus Keyamo, it would not have been in this alleged mess.
“Our Party for the umpteenth time cautions Nigerians who intend to participate in the electoral process under the APC to be guided as they are on a voyage that leads to nowhere.
“For emphasis, the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) was established for the singular purpose of organizing the APC National Convention in 2020. The Committee violated the Constitution and the Electoral Act by engaging in party administration, conducting congresses to produce officers at the various state chapters as well as delegates for APC National Convention,” PDP said
It said by its composition, the Buni-led CECPC by a serving Governor as Chairman is illegal and unconstitutional.
It said by reason of Section 183 of the Nigerian Constitution which bars a sitting governor from holding “any other executive office in any capacity whatsoever,” the APC has created a chain for itself.
PDP added, “In going beyond its mandate, the CECPC acted ultra vires and all administrative acts purportedly done or deemed to have been done by this Committee are null and void and void ab-initio.
“To this effect, delegates to the APC purported National Convention produced by congresses conducted by the CECPC are at best handicapped delegates with leprous fingers who cannot deliver any vote to produce a valid and legal political leadership for the APC.
“INEC should therefore not waste public resources to monitor a jamboree that would be of no legal or electoral effect under our laws.”