By Alhaji Haruna Sani
The Political Parties Registration Commission has written to about thirty elders and senior members of the All People’s Congress (APC) Party in relation to the conduct of the Interim Transitional Governance Committee (ITGC) which is drastically reducing the chances of the party’s active participation in the June 24, 2023 elections.
In a letter dated 11th November, 2022, PPRC clarified that as an oversight charged with the responsibility of supervising political parties, it has been following the activities of the ITGC.
“As a commission, we have done all what we could, to call them to order, but our efforts in that behalf have so far proven futile. Unfortunately, they are not regular organ of the party, they are a creation of court and therefore, we have little or no oversight authority over them,” the statement reads”.
On the 28th of April this year, Justice Fisher, presiding in a matter brought against the party and its National Officers, delivered his judgment in same. In the said judgment, Justice Fisher inter alia created a 21-man committee known as the ITGC with a mandate to superintend over the party till its regular organ are constituted.
Since the creation of the 21-man committee, there has been a sharp divide between the interim Chairman and the Secretary of the ITGC Alfred Peter Conteh and Hon. Abdul Kargbo respectively.
PPRC states that it was mindful of the effect of their conduct on the general interest of the party. PPRC Commissioner, Abdulai Bangura said he has written pursuant to a resolution of the commission to invite the APC party stalwarts to a meeting with the commission slated for Monday 14th November at 12:00 noon at the conference room of the Office of the National Security (ONS).
“The purpose of the meeting is to update you as elders and critical stakeholders of the party, on the unsavory happenings in the ITGC and to solicit your elderly intervention, in charting a way-forward for the party”.