APC to Inaugurate Committee on Oyegun’s Tenure Extension Plan

The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
will constitute a committee to review its decision to extend the
tenure of its national leadership and other party executives at all
levels.

The party had agreed at its last National Executive Committee
(NEC) meeting to reconsider the one year tenure extension granted
to the party executives after President Muhammadu Buhari had
opposed it, citing likely constitutional breach.

As a face-saving measure, and in order to douse the tension
raised by the rejection of its tenure extension plan by President
Buhari, a reliable source told THISDAY yesterday that after due
consultations, the National Chairman of APC, Chief John
Odigie-Oyegun, had assembled a small committee of legal experts to
study the whole issue and make recommendations to the NEC of the
party.

Our reporter gathered that baring any last minute change of
plans, the members of the committee would be inaugurated by 12noon
today at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

According to the source, the party’s National Working Committee
(NWC) had met with some key party leaders last week on how to set
up a task committee to review the situation.

The decision by the party to grant one year extension as their
tenure expires in June 13 had caused disagreement among
stakeholders in the party before President Buhari intervened last
Tuesday, asking the party not to go ahead with the plan.

The president cited constitutional constraints and the need to
avoid a destructive legal tussle which might hamper APC chances in
the 2019 elections.

Our reporter gathered from a reliable source that the
committee’s terms of reference would be to study the options before
the party in view of the president’s advice and court action
embarked upon by members.

The source said the party’s National Legal Adviser, Dr. Muiz
Banire, would be in the team that would consider the pros and cons
of the issues in contention and advise the NEC accordingly.

He said members of the committee would be drawn from outside the
NWC to ensure their neutrality.

The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
will constitute a committee to review its decision to extend the
tenure of its national leadership and other party executives at all
levels.

The party had agreed at its last National Executive Committee
(NEC) meeting to reconsider the one year tenure extension granted
to the party executives after President Muhammadu Buhari had
opposed it, citing likely constitutional breach.

As a face-saving measure, and in order to douse the tension
raised by the rejection of its tenure extension plan by President
Buhari, a reliable source told THISDAY yesterday that after due
consultations, the National Chairman of APC, Chief John
Odigie-Oyegun, had assembled a small committee of legal experts to
study the whole issue and make recommendations to the NEC of the
party.

Our reporter gathered that baring any last minute change of
plans, the members of the committee would be inaugurated by 12noon
today at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

According to the source, the party’s National Working Committee
(NWC) had met with some key party leaders last week on how to set
up a task committee to review the situation.

The decision by the party to grant one year extension as their
tenure expires in June 13 had caused disagreement among
stakeholders in the party before President Buhari intervened last
Tuesday, asking the party not to go ahead with the plan.

The president cited constitutional constraints and the need to
avoid a destructive legal tussle which might hamper APC chances in
the 2019 elections.

Our reporter gathered from a reliable source that the
committee’s terms of reference would be to study the options before
the party in view of the president’s advice and court action
embarked upon by members.

The source said the party’s National Legal Adviser, Dr. Muiz
Banire, would be in the team that would consider the pros and cons
of the issues in contention and advise the NEC accordingly.

He said members of the committee would be drawn from outside the
NWC to ensure their neutrality.