More troubles have been thrown into the court of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as its major rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dragged its Chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni to court seeking his removal from office as Governor of Yobe State.

This is coming on the heels of the Party’s postponement of its congresses across the country. The Party had earlier conducted its Ward Congresses on July 24 while Local Government Congresses were scheduled to hold this Saturday August 14 2021.

In a suit dated August 12, the PDP submitted that Buni violated Section 183 of the Constitution when he agreed to serve as the chairman of the caretaker committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) despite being the governor of a state.

The suit was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday and the PDP argues that combining the governor’s office with another executive position is a constitutional violation.

The plaintiffs are relying on section 183 of the Nigerian constitution and a recent judgement of the Supreme Court, urged the trial court to determine if Mr Buni “who is the governor of Yobe State and caretaker committee chairman

The plaintiffs include PDP’s Yobe governorship candidate in the 2019 election, Umar Damagum, and his running mate, Baba Aji.

The PDP’s argument is that Buni ceased to be a governor from the moment he accepted to serve the ruling party’s caretaker committee’s chairman.

Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has postponed its congresses from ward to national level, indefinitely.

This was contained in a letter dated July 6, 2021, addressed to Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Governor Mai Mala Buni and Senator John James Akpanudoedehe.

“We refer to our letter reference number APC/NHDQ/INEC/19/021/20, dated 10, June, 2021, on the above subject and wish to inform the Commission that the party has rescheduled its congresses and national convention to a later date which will be communicated to you.

“This serves as a formal notification pursuant to the provisions of section 85 of the Electoral Act (2010) as amended.

“While hoping to receive your cooperation, please accept the assurance of my highest esteem,” the party said.

Following the Supreme Court judgement in the Ondo governorship election, controversies have dogged the continuation of the congresses under the Mai Buni- led Convention Planning Committee in office. While a group led by the Vice President was of the opinion that the Party risks a danger of the Court invalidating the processes leading to submission of candidates’ names for the 2023 election because of the minority judgement of the Supreme Court, others led by the Governors and the Attorney General felt there was no danger.

However, with the announcement of the postponement of the congresses indefinitely, it would appear that good reasoning may have prevailed.

It was, however, yet to be seen what would happen to the ward congresses already conducted. From the content of the content of the APC letter to the INEC, it could mean an indirect invalidation of the congresses. The Congresses have been mired in serious controversies and were at the level of resolution at the appeal panels when the postponement announcement was made.