Dr. Babatunde Oke, the South-West Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has voiced criticism against the Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the Court of Appeal’s decision stating that Kano State governor, Abba Yusuf, is not an NNPP member.
The NNPP asserts that neither the APC nor the court has the authority to determine NNPP membership.
Oke expressed this stance in a Sunday statement in Ibadan, Oyo state’s capital, responding to the Court of Appeal’s ruling on Friday, which upheld the tribunal’s decision declaring the APC candidate, Nasiru Gawuna, as the winner of the governorship election.
In his statement, Oke predicts the Supreme Court will overturn the Appeal Court’s judgment, emphasizing the supremacy of political parties in managing their internal affairs.
Referring to past judgments, Oke argues that courts should not interfere in the membership or leadership of a political party, citing the case of Tinubu vs Obi. He points out the inconsistency in the court’s stance on party affairs, urging the APC not to undermine the judiciary.
The NNPP, in documents attached to the statement and signed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), highlights that Abba Kabir Yusuf’s name was on the NNPP members’ registration, countering the Appeal Court’s assertion.
Oke questions the source of the Appeal Court and APC’s membership register, asserting that their National Secretary requested a certified copy of the NNPP’s membership register from INEC on June 23, 2023, to support court proceedings involving their party.
