Purported removal of Taraba APC Chairman unconstitutional – spokesperson
Mr Aaron Artimas, the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Taraba on Sunday said the purported removal of the State party chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim El-Suldi on Saturday by some members of the party was unconstitutional and thus null and void.
Artimas, who disclosed this at a press conference in Jalingo, said the
party’s Constitution in article 21 (5) (vi) provides that, to remove any officer, 2/3 of the members must be present after a notice of 21 days from a Disciplinary Committee.
“But for the fear of losing the rescheduled governorship primary slated for Friday, February 10, some members attempted to instigate a crisis in the party by the purported suspension of the chairman who has been busy in the state of recent with conduct of various primaries into political offices in the country.
“Contrary to the constitutional provision, no prior allegation of indiscipline and impropriety was tabled before the chairman to warrant the purported decision to suspend him from office.
“The 36 out of the 145 members of the State Executive Committee (SEC) who signed the purported removal notice cannot stand because they did not follow due process and could not meet the 2/3 majority requirement.
“We therefore, dismiss the suspension of the chairman as a non-event and a futile imagination.
“The action has demonstrated quite clearly that the renegades are in complete ignorance of the workings of our party or its constitutional provisions.”
The publicity secretary who was flanked by some State Executive Committee members appealed to members of the party and the supporters not to only dismiss the purported suspension as a non-event but also to close ranks for the greater task ahead.
Recalls that the party has scheduled Friday, Feb 10 for governorship primaries following the Supreme court Judgement which sacked Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha as the candidate.
