APC members threatening lawsuit should be expelled, says Salihu Lukman

Salihu Lukman, director-general of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, says members of the dissolved national working committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who go to court over the issues in the party should be sanctioned.

Eighteen members of the dissolved NWC said they are consulting their lawyers on their next line of action following the dissolution by the party’s national executive committee (NEC).

Most members of the dissolved NWC are loyal to Adams Oshiomhole who was suspended as the party’s national chairman.

While protesting the action, they argued that Victor Giadom, former deputy national secretary, did not have powers to convene a NEC meeting.

However, in a statement on Friday, Lukman said the caretaker committee should invoke article 21 against the former NWC members.

Some of the sanctions in the article include; debarment from holding party office, removal from party office, suspension from the party and expulsion.

“Given that a section of the dissolved NWC are threatening legal actions against the decision of the NEC, what does this mean?” he queried.

“It simply means that a section of the dissolved NWC are working against the party. Perhaps the Convention Working Committee should consider invoking provisions of Article 21: discipline of party members of the APC constitution by taking advantage of the now discovered micropowers of ward leaders.

“Based on that, those members of the dissolved NWC who attempt to institute legal actions against the decisions of NEC should be appropriately sanctioned.”

Lukman said the dissolution of the NWC formerly led by Adams Oshiomhole, former APC national chairman, suggests that there is no “godfatherism” in the party.

“In all our democratic experiences, especially under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a National Chairman only get removed on account of disagreement with the President or top leadership of the party at national level,” he said.

“This is largely accountable for why our democracy is so concentrated with so much power at national level. National officers are less accountable and operate almost as gods.

“Somehow, APC appears to have succeeded in altering this.”