Abbas Jimoh
3 November 2008
The solution to the lingering intra-party crisis rocking the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), seems far off as the "Integrity Group" headed by former Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Suleiman Muhammed Argungu, yesterday dismissed the suspension slammed on its members, describing it as "illegal, laughable and unconstitutional."
The group's reaction followed its extra-ordinary meeting convened in Abuja at the weekend to deliberate the decision of the members of the ANPP national leadership to suspend its members from the party. The ANPP national leadership, with some ANPP governors and 27 ANPP state chairmen, met in Maiduguri last Friday and passed a vote-of-confidence on the Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke leadership. They also ratified the suspension of members of the "integrity group" from the party on grounds of "anti-party activities."
Rising from its meeting in Abuja yesterday, the group said neither the Ume-Ezeoke-led ANPP nor the chairmen had the powers to place its members under suspension.
A communiqué signed by the interim chairman of the group, Sulaiman Muhammed Argungu, said the Maiduguri meeting violated Article 20:2 (i) of the ANPP constitution, and as such, its outcome were invalid. The communiqué reads in parts, "Any meeting held without due process and requirement of the law renders all the proceedings at that meeting null and void. The Maiduguri meeting was a complete nullity because it did not meet the stipulated requirements of Article .20.4 (i) of our constitution."
"That the overt exhibition of illegality and the propensity of the leadership not to follow the constitution were publicly exhibited in Maiduguri and it showed that those who attended were either ignorant of the constitution or had decided as usual to disobey same for some selfish and mundane reasons." It also said, "We call on Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, the erstwhile National Chairman, Senator Saidu Kumo, the former National Secretary and Prince Ebuta Ayuk, the former Deputy National Chairman (South) to submit all party properties in their possession as required by Article. 31.2.2(3) of our constitution as they sojourn into the dark abyss of the PDP and we wish them well in their new found home. "That some of the chairmen who attended the non-status meeting at Maiduguri were denied access to the venue even though they were democratically elected by the state chapters; this gives credence to the lawlessness of the leadership. Most of the chairmen were not invited because they know they cannot concur with the illegality.
"That one AbdulRahman who parades himself as the chairman of Adamawa State read a four point communiqué of the Maiduguri meeting. It should be noted that the said Abdulrahaman shares the same fate as that of Senator Kumo and Ayuk as he also is deemed to have resigned his appointment as state chairman, having accepted to be Special Adviser to the PDP Government of Adamawa State, the communiqué said.
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