Buhari Rejects Tenure Elongation For Oyegun, Others

President Muhammadu Buhari has rejected the proposed tenure elongation of all leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The president made his position known while speaking during the National Executive Committee meeting at the party secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday.

The National Executive Committee had on February 27 moved a motion at the last meeting to allow the current leadership at the national and state level continue in office upon the expiration of their tenure in June.

The motion which was duly accepted by majority of the members present had sharply divided members of the party resulting in some members going to court.

But Buhari on Tuesday said the elongation of the tenure of the national and state officers contravenes both the constitution of the APC and that of the federal Republic of Nigeria.

“While the APC constitution in article 17(1) and 13.2(b), limits the tenure of elected officers to four years, renewal once by another election, the 1999 constitution (as amended), in section 223, also prescribes periodic elections for party executives at regular intervals which must not exceed four years,” the president said.

Continuing, the president said “furthermore, Article 31 of our party constitution provides that any principal officer wishing to re-contest or contest for another post, must resign from his current post at least one month before the election.”

The president said what is expected in this circumstance is for fresh election to be conducted and that this cannot be remedied with a caretaker committee.

The president said deviating from the provisions of the party constitution will not only endanger the fortunes of the party but will provide avenues for the nominations and primary elections of the party to be faulted if the party leadership is faulted.

The president thereafter said he is of the firm view that the dictates of the party and its constitution be strictly followed.

“I am therefore of the firm view that it is better to follow strictly the dictates of our party and national constitutions, rather than put APC and its activities at great risk,” Buhari said.

“Fortunately, we have already a timetable for the holding of congresses and elections. I think these should be allowed to go forward, and all efforts should now be geared towards making them a great success,” he added.