…Says APC is right
The Supreme Court has affirmed that the leadership of Governor Mai Mala Buni as Chairman, Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, (CECPC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) is legal and lawful.
The apex court, according to the extract released by the APC, the court also held that Mai Mala Buni’s position as Acting Chairman of the CECPC is not contrary to the provision of Section 183 of the CFRN, as same is on a temporary basis which is not akin to Executive office or paid employment as envisaged by Section 183 of the CFRN.
Recall that there have been controversies and misinterpretations of the judgement over governor Buni’s headship of National Caretaker Committee of APC since the apex court recently delivered its judgement in favour of APC’s governor Rotimi Akeredolu, of Ondo State and his challenger, Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the former’s nomination.
However, in a full judgment of the Supreme Court extracted and a copy made available to newsmen by a member of the CECPC, Prof. Tahir Mamman (SAN), the apex court held that “the law is and still remain that the provisions that govern sponsorship and nomination of candidates in an election are: Sections 31 and 87 of the Electoral Act, 2010, (as amended).
According to the extract of the judgment on the validity of Mai Mala Buni acting as a sitting governor in the position of Chairman, CECPC of the APC vis-a-vis the provisions of Section 183 of the CFRN and Articles, 13.3(vi) and 17(iv) of the Constitution of the APC 2014 (as amended) and the effect on the APC or the qualification of its candidates, the Supreme Court relied copiously on the Judgment of the Court of Appeal and agreed with same in resolving the issue.
