WEDNESDAY COLUMN BY USSIJU MEDANER
info@medaner.com, justme4justice@yahoo.com
Last week, I took time to discuss the need for the ruling APC, my party, to put its home front in order and present a political party that would live up to the expectations of contemporary strong political structures as seen in most developed societies of the world. It is definitely the time for APC as a political party to provide optimum support and a base for stability for the president and all other elected political office holders on its platform. This however would not come by chance; it would have to and must be worked at purposefully.
Political parties are essentially players in highly dynamic, demanding environments. They are expected to be able to compete and win elections, develop policy ideas on a broad range of topics, communicate effectively to an increasingly distracted – if not divided – electorate, raise enough funds to support the implementation of its manifesto, manage the expectations of a population, and implement a legislative agenda either as a government or an opposition. Parties are expected to be active and engage politically all year round taking full advantage of all its pulled, accessible resources if the members meet the demand placed on it by the society it operates in. To survive and thrive in these conditions, political parties must be responsive to opportunities for growth, development and transformation; else, like the PDP of old, the party is bound to go down, as we all can see the party as a shadow of its old self.
Three beacons dictate the evidence of effectiveness of a political party anywhere globally: internal democracy, transparency, and membership outreach. With these in place and well oiled, it is only normal that the party controls the state narratives and win elections as much as provide real leadership and influence on elected members from its fold.
A political party like every other formal organisation is built on a body of rules. It is very important and even more important than any other factor that both members and leaders of the party alike recognise and respect the supremacy and sanctity of the body of the party rules, regulations and values.
Respect for internal democracy would require that the party allows for freely, fairly selection of leaders and candidates only according to party rules. It offers immense benefits by a way of open vertical and horizontal internal communication and members and leaders working together to develop and refine party platforms and policies.
There would not be internal democracy at work in a political party if the tendency to disregard the body of rules that govern the party exists without necessary enforceable sanctions and is uncontrollable. The same way rule of law is essential to a functioning democracy, so are rules, organisation and obedience to the party constitution to a party. To strengthen its internal democracy, a political party should have written and enforceable rules with clear roles and responsibilities.
It is very important we know this and play all our games within the ambit of acceptable laws and regulations that accord all members a sense of belonging and do not offend external electoral and federal laws.
After this comes the utmost requirement for the party to develop and implement strong strategies to ensure accountability to all stakeholders, and the larger society, in the context of doing what is right and acceptable at all times. This would also call for the need to have a control system that brings every member in line with what is acceptable; an independent disciplinary committee that conducts and sanctions party members who run afoul of party rules, regulation and other consensus values.
There is a need for so much caution within APC at this material time; we had lost elective positions that we had no business losing in the past because we chose to abandon the rules. We lost all won elections in Zamfara state at a time and we were prevented from contesting in Rivers state because we thought we could bend rules. Coming from that highhandedness is not only the party losing out on those seats, but also the feud created within the party both at national and state levels as a result of unnecessary grievances.
There are laws; party laws, electoral laws and the national constitution; and as a political party, we are mandated to respect them otherwise there would always be consequences. We are all witness to what is happening to the Labour Party currently. A House of Representative member from Delta state was just sacked by the election tribunal, and many are expected to follow. Why? The party thought it could circumvent the rules of the game. While every presented candidate must first be a registered member of the party, and with details contained in the party membership register submitted to the election umpire, the party that panders to morality, literally, all the way to its presidential candidate, went ahead to present candidates who were not members of the party as at the time the party primaries took place and whose names were not included in the submitted party register as prescribed by the electoral act. The rest would be a story.
We are witnessing political parties and individuals taking advantage of every infringement on the party rules and electoral laws to institute litigations against one another and upset victories in most cases. APC cannot and should not allow itself to be caught any longer in such a situation. We have had our share of unpleasant consequences in the past. The issue of the party NWC and the need for an interim National Chairman and Secretary pending a convention to elect substantial NWC leadership is on the burner. There are rumors and talks of certain anointed candidates for the position. It appears that no one is checking what the party constitution and rule book say about the appointment or replacement as it may be.
The constitution of the party was direct in its statement to the effect of the resignation of an NWC official which opens up a vacancy consequently. Article 31(5)(I) expressly states that “In the case of a National/Zonal Officer, the State Executive Committee shall propose a replacement to the State Congress and Zonal Executive Committee for endorsement. Thereafter the name shall be sent to the National Working Committee, which shall forward same to the National Executive Committee for approval.
Coming from the premises of the Party Constitution on the procedure for the replacement of a resigned national chairman, the party at the national level does not have the option of deciding where the replacement would come from. Rather, the State Executive Committee shall propose a replacement to the State Congress and Zonal Executive Committee for endorsement; implying that the replacement would be done by the state chapter of the resigning chairman, once the tenure is not over. The replacement of Abdulahi Adamu as the National chairman of APC must only come from the North Central and from Nasarawa state if the party would respect its own rule book, and of course, we have no option.
Does NEC have the power to ratify the appointment of any candidate as the chairman, who is not from the North Central and Nasarawa state precisely? The answer is emphatically NO. Interestingly it appears some elements are quoting Article 13 (3) (vi) in error to empower the emergence of their anointed candidates. The Article says “National Executive Committee… may create, elect and appoint any Committee it may deem necessary, desirable or expedient and assign to them such powers and functions as it may deem fit and proper.” This article does not in any way superimpose on the wordings of Article 31(5)(i); rather, it accords NEC the power to form or create committee as may be needed by NWC for the running of the party, in consonant with the procedure stated by Article 31(5)(i). To replace the position, NEC would give the go-ahead to the affected State chapter to nominate for NEC to perform its duty of ratification. For as long as the party is taking the option of a replacement in the case of vacancy, the state in which the chairman resigned is mandated to initiate and present a replacement constitutionally. The only alternative is if the party recourse to exerts its power to call for a Special elective convention for a fresh election or dissolution of the entire NWC using its powers as enshrined in 13: (3)(vi), then only the provision of Article 31(5)(i) can be waived.
We cannot afford to play into the hands of other parties that are gleefully waiting to see us committing constitutional blunders. A replacement that does not align with the constitution would definitely jeopardise the lot of the party in all coming off-cycle elections until the error is corrected. We must know that all correspondences emanating from an NWC leadership wrongly constituted would be illegal in the face of the law, and any decision, including primaries and candidate presentations for elections, would be voided if taken up by any party or individual against the party.
This is a piece of advice to those who are in a position to direct the processes of replacement of Abdullahi Adamu and Omisore as chairman and secretary of the party respectively in the party NWC; let there be caution. The Party Constitution is supreme and must be respected as supreme; otherwise, we are digging a pit for the party tomorrow.
GOD BLESS THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
