APC vows to sanction members who hold parallel congresses

Ahead of its congresses scheduled for Saturday, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned its members not to participate in any activity that will cast the party in a bad light.

In a notice addressed to members seen by TheCable on Friday, John Akpanudoedehe, national secretary of the APC caretaker committee, said the party will invoke the necessary disciplinary measures on those who hold parallel congresses.

Akpanudoedehe also reminded party members of the national executive committee (NEC) resolution which directed members not to take the party to court unless it has exhausted “the internal mechanism for conflict resolution, as enshrined in the party’s constitution”.

“All activities that may be carried out by persons to put the party and its officers in bad light before, during and after the congresses should be jettisoned,” he said.

“All activities or processes leading up to the congresses and thereafter which do not have the approval of the CECPC are exercises in futility. This is to say that: any purported parallel congress, parallel party organ and or parallel party office, is to say the least a nullity.

“These divisive activities will not be tolerated.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the party shall deploy the full weight of the law as stipulated in section 21 (D) of our party’s Constitution on anyone who perpetrates such unlawful Act (s) and also on their sponsors.

“All persons who are affected by Article 31 of our constitution should apply for waivers as stipulated under sub. Section 3 of the said article 31, this is also clearly spelt out in the ‘Special provisions’ of our guidelines.”

Party members like Festus Keyamo, minister of state for labour and employment, had called for the suspension of the congresses following the supreme court verdict on the Ondo gubernatorial poll.

Keyamo had asked the party to sack Buni and anyone holding any executive position on the committee and immediately suspend the planned congresses.

He said this is to avoid legal battles since the competence of Buni to hold the position as chairman has been questioned by the supreme court.