The All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated an eight-member committee tasked with reviewing and amending its constitution, with Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State appointed as chairman.

DAILY GAZETTE recalls that the last amendment to the APC constitution was carried out in 2022.

According to an internal memo signed by the party’s National Legal Adviser, Prof. Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana (SAN), who also serves as secretary to the committee, the decision to establish the committee was approved by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) at its meeting held on February 26, 2025.

“This is to formally notify all members of staff that the National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CON, pursuant to the approval of the National Executive Committee (NEC) at its meeting held on the 26th of February, 2025, has constituted the APC Constitution Amendment Committee,” the memo stated.

While the document did not specify the sections of the constitution slated for revision, it confirmed that members of the committee had already received their letters of appointment and commenced work earlier in February.

“Letters of appointment have already been dispatched and received by all members of the committee and work on the draft constitution commenced in the month of February 2025,” the memo added.

The memo, titled “Notification of the establishment of the committee for the review and amendment of the party’s constitution,” noted that the APC Legal Department would act as the secretariat for the committee.

“The legal department serves as the secretariat to the committee responsible for receiving all correspondences, memoranda and submissions necessary for the smooth operation and success of the amendment process,” it said.

Other members of the committee include Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno, former Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), Miriam Onuoha, and Alphonse Ogah.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State went ahead with its local government and state congresses on Wednesday, declaring the process peaceful and successful, even as a court order had sought to halt the exercise.

Earlier in the day, Justice E. B. Omotosho of the Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti issued an interim injunction restraining the PDP from conducting the congresses.

The ruling was based on an ex parte motion filed by Afolabi Adedeji in suit number HAD/424M/2025.

The matter, which involves the PDP, its acting National Chairman Umar Damagun, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, Ekiti State Caretaker Chairman Dare Adeleke, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has been adjourned to May 14, 2025, for hearing of the motion on notice.

Adedeji is asking the court to bar the defendants and their agents from recognising or accepting any list of individuals who did not obtain nomination forms, participate in the election process, or emerge through the proper voting procedure at the PDP’s ward congresses.

He contends that only delegates elected on March 15, 2025, should be acknowledged.

He also requested the court’s permission to serve the originating summons and related documents via substituted means to defendants located outside Ekiti jurisdiction, including the Federal Capital Territory.

Granting the request, Justice Omotosho ruled, “Leave is hereby granted to the claimant/applicant to serve the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th defendants the originating process with its accompanying documents by substituted means, by pasting the same on the wall of the 1st defendant’s office located on Ajilosun Street, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.”

He further stated, “In addition, the claimant/applicant is granted leave to serve the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th defendants via their WhatsApp phone numbers — 08047677070, 08035961850, and 08033242822, respectively.”

The court also directed all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the motion on notice.

Despite the ruling, the PDP Caretaker Committee in Ekiti proceeded with the congress, applauding the process and turnout.

In a statement issued in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti PDP Caretaker Chairman, Dare Adeleke, thanked the party’s National Working Committee, INEC, and security operatives for ensuring a smooth exercise.

“We are thrilled that the congress commenced and concluded smoothly without any hitches. It is on record that we started ahead of schedule at 8 am and by noon, we had concluded,” Adeleke said.

He praised the Electoral Panel chaired by Dr. Eddy Olafeso for their commitment, describing their efforts as “marvellous.”

“Today’s peaceful outing shows how organised and dedicated the committee was in preparing for this congress,” he added.

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has dismissed his alleged suspension from the Labour Party by a faction led by Julius Abure, describing it as an unserious move aimed at gaining attention.

Reacting swiftly through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, the governor said Abure’s actions were nothing more than a publicity stunt, stating that the suspension had no basis or consequence.

Ekeoma’s statement, issued Wednesday night, urged Nigerians to ignore what he called a baseless announcement by individuals he labeled as jesters within the party.

“The attention of His Excellency the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has been drawn to the news of his purported suspension alongside other eminent leaders of the Labour Party from the Party by the former National Chairman of the Party, Julius Abure.

“The statement by Abure and his gang of comedians is not only a joke taken too far, but an affront on democracy by a group of inconsequential irritants who are desperate to use Governor Otti’s name to advance their self-serving economic agenda.”

Ekeoma stressed that the Supreme Court had already ruled that Abure was no longer the party’s national chairman, and that ruling laid the groundwork for the emergence of the Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee.

“For the records, the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has rightly and unambiguously stated that Julius Abure is no longer the National Chairman of Labour Party.”

“The judgement which is in agreement with the Constitution of Labour Party, and formed the basis for the setting up of the Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee stripped Abure of every authority to parade himself as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.”

Ekeoma alleged that Abure’s announcement was a diversionary tactic following a summons by the caretaker committee to answer serious charges.

“Just few hours after being summoned by a Committee Set up by the Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee to come and respond to allegations of gross misconduct bordering on financial misappropriation, impersonation and anti Party activities levelled against him, Abure decided to be smart by half by rushing to the press to announce the purported suspension of Governor Otti and other eminent members of the party.”

He called on Nigerians to treat the announcement with the ridicule it deserved.

“We enjoin Nigerians to disregard Abure’s laughable statement and continue to see him and his co-conspirators as a group of clowns in desperate search of a crown they do not deserve.”

The statement concluded with a call to law enforcement and electoral authorities to act.

“Finally, we call on the Inspector General of Police to quickly arrest Mr Abure for impersonation, while INEC should ensure full implementation of the Supreme Court judgement as a way of preserving the integrity of the Supreme Court and protecting our democracy.”

Former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has cautioned that any move to establish a one-party system in Nigeria would choke the nation’s political space and could ultimately trigger chaos and disorder.

He sounded this warning on Wednesday in Abuja while delivering a speech at the memorial lecture and tribute session held in honour of the late South-South leader and former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark.

Jonathan acknowledged that while a one-party system might not inherently be harmful, as demonstrated by Julius Nyerere’s leadership in Tanzania, it must emerge through legitimate processes rather than through political manipulation.

“A one-party state may not be an evil thing as Julius Nyerere of Tanzania used it to unite his country because they have many tribes,” he noted.

“However, it was procedural in Tanzania, and not through manipulation.”

He stressed that if Nigeria must consider transitioning to a one-party system, it must be done methodically and deliberately.

“If a one-party state has become desirable for the country, the process must be thorough and systemic, not by accident or political manipulations,” Jonathan said.

His remarks come in the wake of widespread defections from opposition parties including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP), and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), sparking concerns about political imbalance.

Reflecting on the legacy of the late Chief Clark, Jonathan described him as a father figure and a man of unmatched intellect and courage.

“There is no need to look for any replacement for the late Ijaw leader because that would not be achievable,” he said.

“He was a unique personality, with a very sharp memory that no one can beat.”

Jonathan added, “Clark was courageous and ready to take on anybody at any time.”