News
Kwara APC members file suit to stop registration
By Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin
Twenty All Progressives Congress (APC) youths under the aegis of the Concerned APC Youth Stakeholders have sued the Chairman of the Membership Registration and Revalidation Committee, Senator John Danboyi.
They are seeking to restrain the committee from embarking on the membership registration scheduled to begin today.
Joined in the suit is the state Caretaker Committee Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Samari.
But Samari said as the chairman of the party, he is yet to be served any injunction to that effect.
He said the exercise would go on as planned.
The APC youth spokesman John Adegboyega said the exercise would lead to chaos and threat to security if embarked on.
In a suit number UACG/cv/20/2021, filed at an Upper Area Court of Kwara
State, at Ganmo Judicial Division yesterday, the group said the registration scheduled for today by the APC was planned by Fagbemi Tendency, excluding three other tendencies that made up the party.
The plaintiffs averred that in Kwara State chapter of the APC, there are four tendencies- Lai Mohammed Tendency, Akogun Tendency, Fagbemi Tendency and Gbemisola Saraki Tendency.
The APC group said on February 3, the defendants, with the assistance of suspected hoodlums, prevented the plaintiffs and their supporters from entering the venue of the meeting of the APC stakeholders in Ilorin.
“The plaintiffs aver further that if the re-registration proceeds as planned by the defendants, most of the members of the party will be disenfranchised, including the plaintiffs, which will amount to violation of their human rights to freedom of association.”
The APC youth group, which alleged that members were being intimidated and harassed by security operatives, said that Kwara Central senatorial youth leader, Issa Abubakar Alfulani, was reportedly suspended by the party through a letter that bore no signature or name.
It also alleged that some chieftains of the party were attacked by thugs reportedly loyal to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in parts of Edu Local Government.
Addressing reporters, Samari said: “People are urged to be
peaceful and orderly. The party sees no reason why anyone should
deploy violence or resort to self-help in the exercise. Every willing
person will be registered.”
He said the exercise would take place across 1,872 polling units, adding that it would take place across the 16 local governments.
Samari said: “I use this medium to condemn in the strongest term, the reported incidence of violence in parts of Edu Local Government today, even as we await full briefing on what really happened.
“Violence, under whatever guise, is unacceptable. We call on the
security agencies to arrest and prosecute anyone involved in unleashing violence on the people. Just as the governor has rightly noted, there is no basis for anyone resorting to violence, as no one will be excluded.
“We have deployed two supervisors in each local government and 36 for
the 16 councils; two supervisors per ward, making a total of 386
ward supervisors; and three unit officers in each of the 1,872 polling
units, making a total of 5,616 polling unit officers for the exercise.
“Any report or complaint from each unit should be channelled to the
party through their ward supervisors. Ward supervisors should report any complaint from their end to their local government supervisors, while the local government supervisors should channel any report or complaint to the state committee.
“The party has set up a standing committee to ensure resolution of any development anywhere in the state.
“The party urges everyone to be peaceful and orderly. Security agencies will be on ground to maintain law and order. No genuine party member is expected to engage in any violent act. “
