The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday said that its National Legal Adviser, Dr. Muiz Banire, has not been suspended from the party.
The party made this clarification in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, in Abuja.
Banire locked horns with the leadership of his party in Lagos State over the just concluded local council polls which he insisted was marred by imposition of candidates by forces loyal to one of the party’s leaders, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
On Thursday, Banire’s ward in Mushin Local Government purportedly expelled him from the party.
Reacting to the development, APC said the action was a nullity.
The statement reads:
“The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to the purported suspension of the party’s National Legal Adviser, Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN), by the party’s executive committee in Mushin Local government area of Lagos State.
“We wish to state categorically that the purported suspension is a nullity as the local chapter of the party does not have such powers to suspend a national officer. According to the party’s constitution, such powers reside with the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.
“The Party advises that whatever issues there might be, our party structure and constitution provide ample avenues for redress and dispute resolution. If the local chapter is unable to achieve a resolution, the NWC can and will wade in the matter to achieve amicable settlement.