All Progressives Congress (APC) has said its national caretaker committee chaired by Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni is legal.
The party said the controversy that trailed the recent Supreme Court judgement affirming the election of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State was needless and based on uninformed premise.
A member of the Buni committee, Professor Tahir Mamman, SAN, said a certified true copy of the judgement obtained by the party confirmed the legality of the committee.
The party said the committee is on firm ground to proceed with its mandate.
The party said: “That there is no provision in the Electoral Act prescribing any form for forwarding or submission of the sponsored candidate of a political party in an election. Sections 177 and 182 of the 1999 Constitution which make provisions for qualifications and disqualification of candidates for governorship election are exhaustive and leave no room for any addition.
“That no other law/act can be relied upon to disqualify a candidate in an election save for the provisions of Section 182 of the 1999 Constitution. That non-compliance with INEC directives (regulations, guidelines or manuals) for the purpose of election but which is not contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act shall not of itself be a ground in an election petition.
“Paragraph 17(a) of the First Supplementary to Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections cannot be relied upon as ground to question the return of a candidate in an election.
“That Mai Mala Buni’s position as Acting Chairman of the Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee is not contrary to the provision of Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution as same is on a temporary basis which is not akin to executive office or paid employment as envisaged by Section 183 of the constitution.”
“That the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party is empowered to create, elect and appoint committees (including in the instant CECPC) or any other committee it may deem necessary to act in any capacity
“On the strength of all the above position of the Supreme Court in the instant case and other earlier decided cases cited in support, it is our opinion that the Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) headed by Governor Mai Mala Buni is on firm ground to proceed with its mandate as given by the National Executive Committee of the APC.”