APC to PDP: Go to court if not satisfied with Oshiomhole other emergence

APC National Chairman, Adam Oshiomole

The National Convention Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to go to court if they (PDP) were not satisfied with the process that produced APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and other National Working Committee (NWC) members. Oshiomhole last weekend emerged the national chairman of the APC through affirmation, but the PDP had faulted the process, stating that it violated the provision of the Electoral Act. PDP in a statement issued by it is National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, had asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to nullify the election. PDP said: “Section 85(3) of the Electoral Act (as amended) states:

“The election of a members of the executive committee or other governing body of a political party, including the election to fill a vacant position in any of these bodies, shall be conducted in a democratic manner and allowing for all members of the party or duly elected delegates to vote in support of candidates of their choice.” But reacting to the position of the PDP yesterday, Secretary of the Convention Committee, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba said the party; APC, did not violate any section of the Electoral Act in the conduct of its convention. Ndoma-Egba said if PDP felt strongly about violation of the Electoral Act, the party should approach the law court. He said: “Our party’s constitution is very clear.

The electoral act is clear very and when the national chairman was announced unopposed, the question was put at the convention, so we believe that we satisfied every legal requirement.” Also, the national leadership of the APC had described the PDP allegation as displaying ignorance of the Electoral Act. The APC spokesperson, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja said: “We read with dismay, but without surprise, the statement released by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to annul the results of the highlysuccessful national convention of our party held last Saturday, June 23. “We imagine the utter shock and disappointment the dying opposition party must have felt to see that their prediction of collapse for our party ahead of the convention did not come to pass. Unable to recover from the shock, they now indulge in ignorant whimper, calling on INEC to help them do what they are best at doing; annulling elections.

“It is quite distressing to see that a party that was in power for 16 years did not know that INEC has no role in internal elections of a political party. We also wonder which position the PDP contested for at our convention, which entitles them to take it upon themselves to challenge the process. “If the PDP now sees itself as an interested party in our internal elections, we would encourage them to send their petitions to the Convention Appeals Committee of our party. We, however, do not expect them to understand this process of internal democracy. “It is clear to everyone that having been kicked out of power; the PDP still has no idea what to do three years after. However, playing the busybody and so openly advertising their ignorance of basic electoral rules will make it even more difficult for Nigerians to grant them the forgiveness that they have begged for. “What is PDP’s grouse? That INEC should not recognise the new APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, as his emergence by affirmation is according to the PDP in violation of democratic requirements of direct voting by delegates. “Our election guidelines provide that all party posts prescribed by the party’s constitution can be filled by democratically conducted elections or by consensus, provided that where a candidate has emerged by consensus for an elective position, a vote of “Yes” or “No” is called to ensure that it was not an imposition. This was clearly adhered to in many positions, including the national chairmanship position which was unopposed. “But we understand PDP’s problem. They are terrified by Adams Oshiomole. They know that with him, they will no longer have a breathing space. Hence the baseless allegations peddling and conspiracy theory which we are now accustomed to as part of PDP’s sorry attempt to play opposition politics.”

Source: New telegraph