The All Progressives Congress APC on Sunday elected Barr. Ibrahim El-Sudi as the substantive Chairman of the party to lead thirty-five other state executive members.
The leader of the party in the state, Senator Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf said that the party had resolved to go with affirmation rather than the tedious election process with the consent of all critical stakeholders of the party.
“We are doing affirmation and not election because that is our collective decision.” Said Sen. Yusuf.
He assured that as the leader of the party in the state, what they have done today was the only legitimate Congress of the APC in Taraba State, and “anything outside here is an illegality that should not be given a second thought.
The Chairman of the Congress Committee, Alhaji Tijjani Tumsa described the affirmation process as unprecedented in the state, saying that after due consultation with all the critical stakeholders, they have arrived at an arrangement that is sure to guarantee the future of their party (APC).
“I call on all those that indicated an interest in running the affairs of our party to throw their weight behind the leader for the overall good of the party.
“I appreciate the INEC and security agencies that have been very vigilant to ensure that we have a hitch-free exercise”. Tumsa concluded.
An his part, Secretary of the election committee, Rachael Akpabio who read out the names of the officials called for the hundred percent affirmation and was greeted with overwhelming affirmation from the party stakeholders who were present at the Congress.
Akpabio named Chairman Alhaji Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi with Shamaki Danladi as the Vice-Chairman, while Fidelis Francis emerged as the state Secretary.
Others included Musa Sheka as the Assistant secretary and Jediel Apollos who was elected as the Organizing Secretary.
In his response, Barr. Ibrahim El-Sudi saluted the Congress for the confidence reposed in them and urged the people to work for the good of the party.
He assured that his leadership would provide a level playing field for all members to participate actively for the general good of the party in the state.
“It is an honor to be reelected to serve. APC is bigger than any individual. We must remain focused and stay united and forget our differences to make sure we deliver in 2023 and beyond.
“The overwhelming affirmation of this new team shows a high sense of sportsmanship from all those who had earlier indicated interest to contest various positions – said El-Sudi.
It could be recalled that there was a court order flying around on social media restraining the APC national secretariat from conducting the state congress in Taraba as earlier scheduled for Saturday 23th October, 2021.
However, in an interview through a telephone, Barr. Ibrahim El-Sudi on Friday said “The Court says go and served APC and they have not served us and we cannot work on what we didn’t see, we have to see the original Court Papers signed by the judge then we will obey.
“As a lawyer, am telling you when there is no personal service you can’t be charged for not obeying but once Its served on you and you sign and collect, you must obey or be charged for contempt now if we go ahead with our Congress we cannot be charged for contempt because the National Secretariat is not aware of the order,” said El-Sudi.
Reacting on the matter, the Taraba APC Congress Contestants Forum through it’s Secretary, Hon. Sani Abdullahi Tullu said there was no congress held in the state because according to him “what they did was not a congress, they went to Ardo Kola local government area and did what they did but as for us there was no any congress that held in Jalingo.
One of the contestants, Hon. Albani also told our Correspondent on telephone that ” They could not come to the party secretariat and thank God the congress committee chairman has seen that they don’t have anybody, therefore, we are going to react to what they have done shortly after this meeting that we are holding now”