By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
South West Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party, (NNPP), Dr Babatunde Oke yesterday, faulted Friday’s judgment of the Appeal Court on the Kano State governorship tussle.
Dr. Oke in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan, said the judgment will be upturned by the Supreme Court, considering the fact that political parties have supremacy over own affairs.
According to the NNPP SW Secretary, that from previous judgments, it has been ascertained that political parties have supremacy over their own affairs and no court can inquire into the membership or leadership of a Political Party.
“The issue of membership of a political party is a party affair and it’s outside the purview of court’s jurisdiction. It is a matter which only political partirs can decide”, he said.
Dr. Oke added, “To inquire into such would amount to a court poking into the internal or domestic affairs of the party. In the case of Tinubu vs Obi, same court ruled that the candidate’s membership is a party affair.
“In the case of Abba vs Gawuna, same court ruled that it has jurisdiction to interfere in the party’s membership. Same country, same court, same judges, but different judgment, this is surprising. APC should not destroy the judiciary”.
The NNPP SW Secretary maintained that in the documents attached to the statement signed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the name of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf’s name was clearly shown on 56,209 of the NNPP members registration.
“Where did the Appeal Court and APC see their own membership register, where Abba Kabir Yusuf’s name was not found. Our national Secretary, Dipo Olayoku on June 23, 2023 requested true certified copy of Kano membership registration that was submitted to the INEC before the election.
“The letter which was addressed to the Secretary, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Zambezi Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, tittled: Request for certified true copy of updated NNPP membership register submitted to the commission”.
Dr Oke stressed, ” The letter reads: We hereby request for the Certified True copy of our updated Party Membership Register earlier submitted to the Commission.
“This certification of our copy of register becomes necessary for Court processes involving our Party.
“We agree to take charge of all due fees, while awaiting your quick action, please accept our best regards.
“And the copy was presented to us after the statutory payment of eleven thousand one hundred and sixty one naira, twenty-five kobo (N11,161. 25k) was paid to the INEC.
“And the name of Kano state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf was clearly shown on 56209 of the NNPP members registration”.
