Go To Court, Buhari Challenges Aggrieved APC Members

Contrary to the position of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari has encouraged aggrieved members of the party to seek legal redress over whatever grievances they may hold against the party.

Recall that some aggrieved members of the APC had filed various lawsuits against the party over the outcome of the party’s primary elections, alleging illegalities.

But the APC NWC had through its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Lanre Issa-Onilu, last Monday, threatened sanctions against any party member that refuses to withdraw their suits against the party.

Speaking in contradiction to the NWC, however, President Buhari said today that aggrieved members of the APC are free to exercise their constitutional rights.

“We can’t deliberately deny people of their rights. We agreed that party primaries should be conducted either through direct, indirect or consensus methods, and if anyone feels unjustly treated in the process, such a person can go to court. The court should always be the last resort for the dissatisfied. For the party to outlaw the court process is not acceptable to me,” the president said in a statement on Monday.

Meanwhile, the earlier statement by Issa-Onilu read, “We hereby strongly advise such members to withdraw all court cases, while approaching the appropriate party organs with a view to resolving any outstanding disputes. In addition to this, aggrieved members are urged to take full advantage of the reconciliation committees the Party has put in place.

“APC members should understand that as a progressive party that operates on the principle of change, it is not a matter of choice to keep to the rules,” the party had said.