New Political Party, APDA Runs into Deep Leadership Crisis

New Political Party, APDA Runs into Deep Leadership Crisis

Some promoters of the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA) have asked an FCT High Court to order its interim Chairman, Mohammed Shittu Kabiru, and Secretary, Emeka Okengwu, to vacate their offices immediately.

The originating summons, which was brought by Ayo Ogundele, counsel to the aggrieved promoters, claimed that Shittu and Okengwu's protem leadership lapsed on June 13, 2017, having been appointed for three months in interim capacity on March 14, 2017, when the party was an association.

The plaintiffs stated that by the provisions of Section 86(3) of the Electoral Act, 2010, and Section 86 (a) (c) (2) of APDA's constitution, "Only persons who emerge in an election conducted in a democratic manner, where members of the party or duly elected delegates voted, or were allowed to vote, can occupy any office in the executive committee or other governing body of the party."

In the affidavit attached to the originating summons, a former Interim Deputy National Chairman (South), and member of the Interim National Executive Committee of the party, Dr. Emmanuel Fijabi Adebo, averred that the promoters of the party, led by the founder of AIT, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, had as part of requirements for the registration of the party on June 7, 2017, filled the executive positions of the party on, "interim, pro tempore, and ad hoc basis for a period of three months, effective from March 14, 2014."

At the resumed hearing of the matter, counsel to Shittu Kabiru, Kayode Ajulo, announced his withdrawal from the matter for ethical reasons.

Justice Yusuf Halilu adjourned the matter to Monday, August 28, to enable the interim chairman secure the services of a new counsel.

Before the case got to court, the Shittu Kabiru-led EXCO had on August 9, suspended Dokpesi and others for alleged anti-party activates, including the appointment of Mainasara Illo and Dan Nwanyanwu as new APDA chairman and secretary respectively, of the party's BoT.

Source: DailyTrust

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