How Plateau APC Chairman Rufus Bature Allegedly Replaced Ad-Hoc Delegates To Favour Dr Nentawe Yilwatda-Aggrieved Purported Delegates

Yakubu Busari

The aggrieved purported All Progressive Congress, APC, Ad-hoc delegates committee in Plateau State Chapter have revealed the reason why the State Chairman, Hon Rufus Bature wrote a secret letter ordering for the immediate replacement of their names from the 2023 party primaries.

The APC aggrieved purported delegates across local Government Councils, and State were before Hon. Justice Arum Ashom to interpret the 2012 APC constitution that provides for the sale of forms to Ad-hoc delegates committees that are saddled with the sole responsibility to elect the governorship of the party.

However, this development didn’t go down well with the state chairman who politically constituted his own Kangaroo committee to swiftly replaced the purported delegates whom he saw as loyal members for use.

Whence the matter was adjourned for mentioning, the counsel to the purported delegates of the APC told journalists that one of the major reasons why the adjournment was sought was to enable the APC governorship candidate, Dr Nentawe Yildatda to join in the suit.

He stated that basically, the proceedings were for the amendment because the APC constitution  2014 was alleged to be omitted so there was the need to effect amendment in all the processes to meet up the motion.

Counsel to the aggrieved purported delegates, Barr. Samuel A. Abbah explained that APC brought their fresh motion that the APC constitution was excluded consequently drawing the court’s attention to the party constitution.

According to him, the APC governorship candidate also filed his motion seeking the order of the court to allow him to join which we are filing our own preliminary objections and the motion is not ripe for the hearing.

However, Justice Arum Ashom of the State High Court N0,2 sitting in Jos, Plateau State has adjourned to the 17th November 2023 for the two motions to be taken simultaneously together during the proceedings.

He disclosed that the APC governorship candidate Dr. Nentawe doesn’t have the right to join because this is not a pre-election matter and is not time bound, it is inter-party affairs and this is not APC official, but when the fate of the party is determined they can know their stand.

The APC purported delegates have approached the court seeking the nullification of primaries conducted by the APC which were marred by irregularities, and nonadherent to the 2014 guideline to warrant the election of the flagbearer of 2023.

“You recalled that APC sold Ad-hoc delegates forms for the election of APC delegates which was jettisoned and abandoned by the state chairman who officially communicated to disband those who purchase forms “.

The purported delegates are asking for justice from the judiciary to serve as a detriment to the party exco that perpetual the criminal breach of trust.