As reactions continue to trail Wednesday’s Supreme Court verdict on the Ondo Governorship Election, members of the Progressives Youth Movement (PYM), the youth wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked Governor Mai Mala Buni, Chairman of the APC Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee and members of the committee to step down with immediate effect.
In the interim, the Youths asked the party’s statutory NEC to dissolve the CECPC without delay to save the APC from imminent collapse.
Princess Aisha Audu who led the youths to address journalists at the party’s national Secretariat on Thursday, said the judgment of the Supreme Court is sufficient for the party to realize that the entire faith of APC stakeholders at federal and state levels are on the brink.
The Supreme Court in its majority judgment sustained the election of Gov Rotimi Akeredolu on grounds that the litigant did not join Governor Mai Buni in the suit, a position the APC Youths said is enough warning for the party to do the right thing.
She insisted that the party must act immediately to excuse Yobe State governor and the CECPC without further delay.
Meanwhile, ripples of the Supreme Court verdict on Ondo State Governorship tussle between Jide Jegede, People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), candidate at the last state election, and Governor Rotomi Akeredolu, SAN, have continued to reverberate in Ilorin, on Thursday after the Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, BOB led group of APC, accused national leadership of the ruling party of complicity in the conflicts in the state chapter of the party.
Though Akeredolu won the apex court ruling by a very narrow margin against Jegede, the Supreme Court justices were unanimous that the Mai Mala Buni led caretaker committee in the ruling party is untenable in the face of law.
“It is difficult to absolve the current National leadership of our party of complicity in the crisis rocking APC in Kwara State today. They have tried all the tricks in the book to pervert the cause of justice on issues, but our God is a God of justice,” explained Barr. Ladi Mustapha, Caretaker Legal Adviser, Kwara State APC, in press briefing at the party secretariat in Ilorin.
The chieftain further used the opportunity to affirm BOB as the authentic party chairman in Kwara state.
“We have remained undaunted, resolute and focused on the ideals and philosophy of our party.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Supreme Court ruling on Jegede Vs. Rotimi Akeredolu Governorship election should be bold enough on the wall of justice that Hon. Bashir Ọmọlaja Bolarinwa’s chairmanship is as solid, in law, as the Rock of Gibraltar.
“Therefore, it is advisable for the political masquerades to step back to the shrine and allow peace to reign in the party,” he stated.
Uche Nwosu is a two time Shell Petroleum PLC award winner in the year 2000;
He won the Shell Award on Investigative Journalism and Environmental Cleanliness.
