The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced that political appointees who were elected as delegates for the party’s national convention on Saturday won’t be allowed to vote.
They would however be allowed to attend the convention as observers.
The position was announced in a statement on Thursday via the official Twitter handle of the APC National Convention which is managed by the digital communications sub-committee of the party’s planning committee.
It noted that the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) headed by Governor Mai Mala Buni gave the directive.
According to the statement released, this is to avoid any legal issues as a result of the controversies surrounding Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
The statement titled “ATTENTION TO POLITICAL OFFICE HOLDERS WHO WERE ELECTED AS DELEGATES” reads: “The National Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of APC has declared that all political appointees who were elected as delegates to the National Convention slated for 26/3/2022 SHALL NOT VOTE in view of the controversy surrounding Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act,2022.”
“However, political appointees can still attend as observers.”
It will be recalled that after signing the amended electoral act, President Muhammadu Buhari had written the National Assembly to remove the section arguing that it violates the Constitution and breached the rights of government appointees but the National Assembly members declined the President’s request.
However, a Federal High Court sitting in Umahia, Abia State which was presided over by Justice Evelyn Anyadike on Friday 18th March, 2022 directed the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami to delete Section 84 (12) of the amended Electoral Act.
Justice Anyadike while calling on the minister to delete the section of the Electoral Amendment Act, noted that it is unconstitutional.
Malami on Wednesday said the process was still a work in progress.
The National Assembly however expressed disappointment and displeasure with the judgment, which they said was aimed at usurping the powers of lawmaking conferred on them by the 1999 Constitution as amended.
They also asked the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami not to tamper with the law as made by the National Assembly pending the determination of all appeals related to it.
