APC slams Plateau Speaker over failure to swear in 16 house members
All Progressives Congress (APC) today came hard on the Plateau State House of Assembly Speaker, Hon. Gabriel Dewan following his refusal to swear in 16 APC members adjudged by the Court of Appeal as the duly elected members of the Assembly.
Spark News recalls that the Court of Appeal recently sacked 16 members elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and ordered that certificates of return be issued to APC candidates
However, Hon. Dewan has not sworn in the 16 APC House members, saying since the 32 members had their certificates of return, and are laying claim to their mandates, it would be unlawful to admit them into the chambers.
The Speaker also claimed that he has received a court injunction restraining the House from inaugurating the 16 APC members.
Rising from its 141st meeting, the National Working Committee of the Party condemned the failure of the Plateau State House of Assembly Speaker to swear in the 16 APC members.
“The intransigence of the Speaker and the Governor of the state in this matter is wrong, undemocratic and violently contemptuous of the authority of the Court of Appeal, the highest court for the determination of election petition matters as it concerns the House of Assembly.
APC urged the Speaker to swear in the members without further delay in the interest of peace in the good State of Plateau, adding that failure to do so, necessary action will be taken against him.
Briefing journalists at the party’s National Secretary on Tuesday in Abuja, APC spokesperson, Barr. Felix Morka highlighted some resolutions taken at the NWC meeting on key party issues.
According to him, the party would flag off the update of members register nationally in Niger State – then flag off in one state in each of the other geo-political zones.
Barr. Morka said APC has adopted in its entirety the report of the NWC’s high level Reconciliation and Intervention Delegation to the United Kingdom’s APC Diaspora Chapter.
The National Publicity Secretary stated that the NWC has approved the constitution of an Interim Executive Committee of the Chapter of 24 members to be led by its Chairman, Hon. Tunde Doherty and Secretary, Hon. Joseph Adebola.
He said the Interim Executive Committee shall have a term of three months, which term may be renewed as may be necessary.
