Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan
The South West wing of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), yesterday, berated the Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the judgement of the Court of Appeal that Governor Abba Yusuf, was not a member of the NNPP, saying the APC and the court have no right to determine who was a member of their party.
In a statement in Ibadan, Oyo State, by the Zonal Secretary of the party, Dr. Babatunde Oke, the party reacted to the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed the tribunal judgment that declared the APC candidate, Nasiru Gawuna, winner of the March 18 governorship election.
Oke said the Appeal Court judgement would be upturned by the Supreme Court, stating that political parties had supremacy over their affairs.
He maintained that from previous judgements by higher courts, it has been ascertained that political parties had supremacy over their affairs and no court could inquire into the membership or leadership of a political party.
“The issue of membership of a political party is a party affairs and it is outside the purview of court’s jurisdiction. It is a matter which only political party can decide. To inquire into such would amount to a court poking into the internal or domestic affairs of the party.
“In the case of Tinubu vs Obi, same court ruled that the candidate’s membership is a party affairs. In the case of Abba vs Gawuna, same court ruled that it has jurisdiction to interfere in the party’s membership. Same country, same court, same judges but different judgements. This is surprising. APC should not destroy the judiciary.
“In the documents attached to the statement signed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the name of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, was clearly shown on 56209 of the NNPP members registration.
“Where did the Appeal Court and APC see their own membership register, where Abba Kabir Yusuf name was not found. Our National Secretary, Dipo Olayoku,on June 23, 2023, requested the true certified copy of Kano State membership registration that was submitted to the INEC before the election.
“The letter which was addressed to the Secretary, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Zambezi Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, tittled: Request for certified true copy of updated NNPP membership register submitted to the commission.
“The letter read: We hereby request for the Certified True copy of our updated Party Membership Register earlier submitted to the Commission. This certification of our copy of register becomes necessary for court processes involving our party.
“We agree to take charge of all due fees, while awaiting your quick action, please accept our best regards. And the copy was presented to us after the statutory payment of eleven thousand one hundred and sixty one naira, twenty-five kobo (N11,161. 25k) was paid to the INEC. And the name of Kano state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf was clearly shown on 56209 of the NNPP members registration.”
