The former National Vice-Chairman (South-South) of the All Progressives Congress Hilliard Eta has rejected his expulsion by the National Executive Committee of the party, which met at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.
He has also declared that he remained the acting chairman of the party.
The decision to expel him while extending the tenure of the Mai Mala Buni-led caretaker committee was taken at a meeting of the committee attended by President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, and other party chieftains.
While Buhari, Osinbajo, leaders of the National Assembly and state governors elected on the platform of the party attended the meeting at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, other party chiefs participated virtually.
Briefing state house correspondents after the meeting, Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai said the NEC also dissolved all state, zonal and national party structures.
He also announced that the party granted waivers to some new members to enable them contest elective offices without waiting for a particular period of time.
El-Rufai stated, “The National Executive Committee of the party approved the extension of the tenure of the Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee led by Mai Mala Buni, which expires on December 25, 2020, for another six-month period, to terminate on June 30, 2021.
“This is to enable the Caretaker and Convention Planning Committee to conclude its assignment as laid before NEC.
“NEC has also donated its powers as enshrined in Articles 13.3 subsection 5 and 13.3 subsection 6 of the APC Constitution to the Caretaker and Convention Planning Committee.
“The second resolution is that NEC has approved the granting of waivers to persons, who have recently joined the party and those desirous of joining the party in the nearest future.
“By this, such new members will enjoy all the benefits and privileges accruable by virtue of their membership of the party. So, they will be able to contest positions in the party; they will be able to contest elections without any requirement of being members for a number of years or a period of time.”
El-Rufai added, “The third resolution is that NEC approved the expulsion of Ntufam Hilliard Eta from the party for flouting the directives of NEC to discontinue all litigation against the party and its members.”
No Comment