LALONG&CO-TRAVELLERS’ PLANS TO BURY APC ALIVE ON THE PLATEAU-COALITION OF APC YOUTHS FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE EXPOSES
By: Waptu Monday
14th April, 2018

Following the resolution of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday 9th April, 2018 that there should be Congresses at National, State, Local Government and Ward levels as earlier suggested by President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State and Mr. Latep Dabang, State Chairman, are allegedly planning to go against the Supremacy of the constitution.

This was the outcome of the Stakeholders meeting held at Yelwa Club, Jos on Friday 13th April, 2018 where Governor Lalong called some members of the inner caucus accompanied by the Speaker House of Assembly, Rt Hon Peter Azi and affirmed Latep Dabang and his EXCO to continue as party executives.

Confirming the illegal moves by Governor Simon Bako Lalong and his cohort party chairman Latep Dabang, to Coalition of APC Youths for Good Governance, Barr Bashiru a stakeholder from Jos North said they were shocked to hear that Governor Lalong who happened to be the Chairman Technical Committee on Tenure Elongation maneuvering could affirm the present EXCO led by Latep Dabang to continue as party leaders without Congresses. “This is shocking and alarming because the National Working Committee of our great party has adopted the report of the Technical Committee led by Governor Lalong that there should be Congresses in line with APC Constitution as well as the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”. Why should a governor choose to act contrary to the report of a committee he Chaired?

The position of Mr. President is clearly stated in the APC Constitution. Article 17(1) and 13.2(B), limits the tenure of elected officers to four years, renewable once by another election. The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), in section 223, also prescribes periodic elections for party executives at regular intervals, which must not exceed four years.
Section 31 of APC 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 .

Why should Governor Lalong who happens to be a Barrister be jeopardizing the Supremacy of the constitution? Does that mean the governor is afraid of fresh election of new executives? Or the governor is afraid of losing his party loyalists if fresh elections are conducted?
Another APC stakeholder from Shendam lamented that since the Governor is afraid to conduct party Congresses, can he be courageous enough to face the larger house- Plateau masses in the forthcoming general elections? Another APC Stakeholder Comrade Sati Emmanuel from Pankshin condemned the affirmation plans by Governor Lalong and calls on Party faithful both at National and State levels to join forces in condemning the act of illegality in order to rescue democracy. He said if any APC stakeholder on the Plateau agrees with affirmation of the present EXCO it means they are enemies of democracy and want to bury APC alive on the Plateau.

The Chairman of the Coalition of APC Youths for Governance Plateau State Chapter, Comrade Nentok Simon cautioned against the moves for affirmation and said if Governor Lalong fails to uphold the party constitution then we the core APC members on the Plateau can conduct election and submit the report to the national body. We must adhere to what Mr. President said in line with the party constitution. We must take over our great party before Lalong and Latep Dabang bury us alive he said “.
” This is purely democracy and to the best interest of the party, and Governor Lalong, Plateau State should respect the submission of the National Working Committee “.

count | 93

LALONG&CO-TRAVELLERS’ PLANS TO BURY APC ALIVE ON THE PLATEAU – Waptu Monday