Why APC Should Have Suspended Ward Congresses – Muiz Banire

Former National Legal Adviser of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Muiz Banire has stated that his party should not have gone ahead with its ward congress held on Saturday nationwide.

Speaking in an interview on Channels Television ‘Sunday Politics, Banire warned that the Supreme Court may declare the Mai Mala Buni-led National Caretaker Committee illegal.

He stated that the uncertainty surrounding the ruling on the Ondo State governorship election should have been enough to put the congress on hold.

According to him: “Nobody has seen the full judgment of the Supreme Court, the expectation is that by tomorrow, the certified true copy will be released for people to digest and now be able to make informed decision and opinion. In such circumstances, why will they be proved with the congress?”

“Why are they in a hurry to do something which eventually might end up being calamitous? If eventually, it is the truth that the Supreme Court came to the conclusion unanimously for that matter that Governor Buni ought not to have signed any of the nomination papers of Governor Akeredolu, the same thing will apply to the congress they are doing”.

“This is because the letter of notification to INEC was equally signed by Governor Mai Mala Buni. If the foundation is lacking, certainly they can’t build anything on it. At the end of the day, the whole exercise will be a nullity. It is a complete waste of everybody’s time”.

Banire, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), described the move to go ahead with the ward congress as reckless.

he said: “I do not want to use the word irresponsible. Even without necessarily looking at the Supreme Court judgment, I will say that as of today, if you go by Article 17(iv) of the APC constitution, it is very explicit.

“There is no way the Caretaker Committee can do anything that will not amount to a nullity. Every step they have taken so far, the ones they are taking right now and the ones they will still be taking is ultimately likely going to be a nullity.

“Why do you want to go in that direction? So, for me, I have predicted it. I hope I will be disappointed that certainly internal implosion of the party seems to be inevitable imminently”.