Oyegun’s Tenure Elongation: Tinubu Hails Buhari Over Rejection

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says President Muhammadu Buhari showed principle and courage to save the APC from serious turmoil.

Tinubu was reacting to comments made by Buhari on Tuesday describing the tenure extension of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party led by John Odigie-Oyegun as unconstitutional.

Speaking at the APC National Executive Committee meeting at the party secretariat in Abuja, the President said Oyegun’s tenure elongation “is against the party constitution and the Nigerian constitution”.

Tinubu said Buhari’s decision affirmed that the APC is a party based on the rule of law coupled with a firm adherence to internal democracy.

“The President declared that any such moves would contravene both the national and party constitutions,” he said in a statement.

“While it would have been easy to allow the ill-conceived motion of 27 February to stand, President Buhari showed principle and courage by steering the party back to its original and correct path.

“His action has saved the party from serious legal turmoil… such a predicament would constitute an unnecessary and mortal blow to the party and its role in promoting progressive governance to Nigeria.

“Moreover, President Buhari has affirmed for all to see that our party is one based on the rule of law coupled with a firm adherence to internal democracy.”

Tinubu, who has been a strong advocate for Oyegun’s removal, said Buhari’s action will also serve to strengthen the party by allowing “party members, including present incumbents, to seek to contribute to the party by vying for executive offices as they see fit”.

According to him, the President’s action will go far in advancing the process of internal reconciliation gives room for the APC to move forward and begin to plan and organize the needed congresses according to the existing timetables.