Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the aegis of Concerned Ebonyi State APC Stakeholders and Concerned Foundation Members of APC in Ebonyi State, have petitioned the Mai Mala Buni-led National Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Committee, alleging that the newly constituted Stanley Okoro-led Caretaker Committee of the Party in Ebonyi state was illegal and should not be recognized.
In a three-page petition with the signature and seal of Ndah Kato & Co chambers, Adonkolo, Lokoja, Kogi State, dated 25th January, 2021, the petitioners alleged that the appointment of Stanley Okoro, a serving Commissioner in Ebonyi State government, as the Chairman of the APC Ebonyi state Caretaker Committee, was in breach of the resolutions of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the APC held on 8th day of December, 2020.
“We are the Solicitors to Chief Silas Oketa,Hon Linus Nweze,Chief Ogbu Joseph Nweke, concerned Ebonyi State APC stakeholders and concerned foundation members of APC in Ebonyi State.
It is on their definite instructions that we write this letter”, the petition noted.
The petitioners explained that during the NEC meeting, the party had resolved and approved the dissolution of all the party organs, and also in its 4th resolution unanimously approved the reconstitution and the composition of the dissolved Excos to serve in their respective offices in a Caretaker Committee capacity.
They argued that following the unanimous decision of the NEC, it was clear that the elected APC Excos led by Chief Eze Nwachukwu Eze, Engr Jeff Ogbu and others still remained the valid APC Caretaker Committee in Ebonyi state, by virtue of the NEC 4th resolution.
“Our clients are baffled that the new entrants, who are yet to formally register as members of the APC in Ebonyi state, are now treating the foundation members of the APC in Ebonyi state as a pariah or strangers and boasted openly that they are the owners of the APC and are now busy demanding for and struggling to take over the structure of the party in Ebonyi state, with the support of some compromised members of the party. This is the height of impunity, which is a danger sign and signal, which the party should not joke with or treat with levity”, the petitioners alleged.
The petitioners added that the purported imposition of some PDP card-carrying members,led by Stanley Okoro, had attracted much condemnations, protests and objection by the teaming foundation members and stakeholders of APC in Ebonyi state.
“Information now at our clients’ disposal indicates that the aforesaid impositors, who are yet to formally register as APC members in Ebonyi state, have concluded the plans to impose themselves as the APC Caretaker Committee in Ebonyi state, to hijack the materials meant for the party in Ebonyi state, as regards the yet to be kick started APC membership registration and revalidation exercise
“Be informed that the APC constitution remains the ground norm which guides the party and its members. To be noted that the APC resolution unanimously reached on 08/12/2020 is still valid and subsisting and no member(s) of the Party, no matter how highly placed, can by use of arbitrary fiat, deception; unconventional and illegal method, impose, or adopted the purported APC Caretaker Committee led by Stanley Okoro as its Caretaker Committee in Ebonyi state.
“To be noted that, should the party insist on the adventure, any acts or actions by the purported APC Caretaker Committee led by Stanley Okoro remains null and void, hence the need for the APC NEC and its leadership to look before they leap to avoid any regret or a situation of helplessness, which is inevitable, should the party decide to throw caution to the wind.
“In view of the above circumstance, we have our clients instruction to appeal and demand and we hereby appeal and demand as follows:
“That the foundation members (old) APC members in Ebonyi state who suffered with the party at odd time or trying moment should not be sidelined or treated as parial and underdogs by the APC leadership while the aforesaid who are yet to be registered members of the party should be called to order.
“That the Exco led by Chief Eze Nwachukwu Eze, Engr Jeff Ogbu and Ors be recognized and be related with as the APC Caretaker Committee in Ebonyi state, in line with the APC NEC resolutions reached on 08/12/2020.
“That on no account should the purported APC Caretaker Committee led by Stanley Okoro, should be accorded any recognition or related with in Ebonyi state, as action nor duty assigned to or performed by them remains a void act and an illegality which may hurt, affect the future fortunes of the party in Ebonyi state.
“That the leadership of the party should desist from any act of impunity or illegality and avoid acts that may plunge the party into unnecessary bickering, leadership crisis or log-jam, or same will be vigorously and legally challenged by our clients.”
