The Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected the dissolution of its State Working Committee (SWC), deeming it illegitimate and a violation of the party’s constitution, News About Nigeria reports.
In a statement released on Thursday, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Daniel Ihomum, responded to the purported dissolution, stressing that it is invalid and contradicts a standing court order.
Ihomum clarified that the Benue State High Court, Makurdi, had issued an injunction restraining the National Working Committee from altering or dissolving the State Working Committee until the completion of its four-year term.
He stated that the National Working Committee’s actions are unlawful, as they disregard a valid court order and attempt to remove a democratically elected committee with a subsisting tenure.
Ihomum added that the party’s national leadership is not exempt from adhering to a competent court’s ruling and urged members to disregard the purported dissolution.
The party’s Local Government Primary Election, scheduled for August 24, will proceed as planned, despite the controversy.
In his words, Ihomum said, “We are constrained to react to a purported dissolution of the Benue State Working Committee by the National Working Committee of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday 21 August, 2024.
“Our esteemed members of the APC in Benue State are advised to disregard this purported dissolution because same is illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional as there is a subsisting court order issued by Honourable Justice T.A Igoche of the Benue State High Court, Makurdi, restraining the National Working Committee or any other organ of the All Progressives Congress from removing, changing, replacing, dissolving or terminating the tenure of the Benue State Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) until the expiration of its four-year tenure of office pending the determination of the motion on Notice.
“It is illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional of the National Working Committee to purportedly remove, dissolve or replace a democratically elected State Working Committee whose tenure is subsisting as in this case, more also where there is a valid court order which was duly served on the National Working Committee. It will not stand!
“We urge all our party members and party faithful to disregard the said purported dissolution as neither the NWC nor the NEC is immune from obeying the order of a competent court of law.
“Members of the party are reminded that the Local Government Primary Election scheduled for Saturday, 24th August, will go ahead as planned.”
