As politicking for the 2023 general election heightens, the Taraba state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) seems to be engulfed in a crisis, as four Local Government APC chairmen of Wukari, Takum, Ibi and Ussa have kicked against alleged deposition by the state party chairman, Barrister Ibrahim Tukur Elsudi.
According to the aggrieved chairmen, the factional chairmen where allegedly sworn in on the 14th of May, to supplant their mandates which had began after they were sworn in on the 21st of October, 2021.
In a letter dated 15th, May, 2022 and addressed to the national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, they called for restitution, refering the national chairman to INEC’s certified true copy (CTP) and the party’s cerified ture copy (CTC) OF THE RESULT OF THE Local Government congresses which held on the 4th of September 2021.
The letter reads, “We the legitimate Local Government APC chairmen for Wukari, Takum, lbi and Ussa of Taraba State, wish to bring to the notice of the National Chairman and the National working committee ( NWC) of the unlawful swearing in of another faction of APC chairmen for Wukari, Takum, lbi and Ussa local governments areas on the 14th May, 2022, by the APC state chairman Barrister lbrahim Tukur Elsudi, under the false purported claim of acting under the instruction of the National working Committee (NWC) of our great party.
“This situation came to us as a shock, as we were all duly elected at the local Government congresses on 4th September 2021, and subsequently sworn in on 21st October, 2021 at the APC State party secretariat in Jalingo. Since then, we have been carrying out all our constitutional responsibilities without any hitches.
“Your Excellency , to futher substantiate our claim for legitimacy, please kindly find attached (As Appendix 1) INEC’ s Certified True copy (CTC) list of the congresses result, which is also consistent with the s Party’ Certified True Copy (CTC) list (Appendix 2).
The statement further added that they were part of the delegates that elected the current national executives of the ruling party, and that as loyal party men, loyal to the Adamu led exco they would seek to exhaust the internal dispute resolution process which they are assured has the sagacity to do the right thing and get the state chapter back on track in readiness for the 2023 general elections.
“lt is also instructive to mention that we were all delegates at the National convention that elected the present National Executives Officers of our great party ( See Appendix 3 which contains the list of Delegates from the state to the National Convention).
“Therefore, as law abiding party men, who will always seek redress by first and foremost exploring the dispute resolution mechanism of our great party, as enshrined in our party’s constitution, we appeal to the National chairman and the National Working committee to; immediately declare the swearing in of the faction of the four (4) local Government APC chairmen of Wukari, Takum, lbi and Ussa on the 14th May, 2022 as a Nullity, to forestall the already heated up crisis that threatens the stability and anticipated successful outcome of the APC at the forthcoming general elections.
“To secondly, call the APC state chairman Barrister Ibrahim Tukur Elsudi to order and Sanction his shameless act according to the APC constitution, for attempting to destabilize the party at a very critical periopd where the party requires cohesion for a victorious outcome at the forthcoming general elections.