The Political Parties Registration Commission has written to the All Peoples Congress (APC) highlighting the major problems they have with their newly adopted Constitution.

The letter dated on 15 February 2022 was addressed to the National Secretary General of APC, Amb. Alhaji Osman Foday Yansanneh, signed by the Chairman of PPRC, Abdulai Masiambay Bangurah.

According to PPRC, the letter was written in response of Yansanneh’s letter to them of both the marked up and clean versions of the APC Party’s Constitution.

The full response of PPRC to the APC’s newly adopted Party Constitution is stated below.

1. Article 11(i&ii), the mode of acquisition of the membership prescribed therein, is still not stated.
2. Article 16(viii), is including, not in addition to Mayors and Chairpersons.
3. Article 17(b) delete the words “legal team”
4. Article 20(d), add the phrase “through Constitutional amendment” between the word “party” and the fullstop.
5. Article 24(f), add the proviso that, at ordinary meetings, if the attendance is less than half of the membership, resolutions reached shall be by two thirds majority.
6. Article 25, please confirm in writing for the Records, if the recommendation in ourRuling for each District executive Committee, to nominate one member, approved by NAC, to the Elders Council, was rejected by NAC. If not, then this Article to be redrafted to reflect that recommendation, if yes it stays as it is.
7. Article 25(c), Members should be elected by surviving former holders of the Offices mentioned in Article 25(a) and not on the invitation of NAC. Article 28(g), delete the word “people’s”
8. Article 29(b)(iv),add the phrase “in that Region” Article 29(g), add the proviso that, for ordinary meetings if the attendance is less than half of the membership, resolutions reached shall be by two thirds Majority
9. Article 29(h), delete the words “and the National Executive Committee” to bring it in line with Article 42, which vests that power exclusively in the IEMC. Article 30(e), add the proviso that, where the attendance is less than half of the membership, resolutions reached shall be by two thirds Majority.
11. Article 31(e), please confirm in writing for the Records, if the recommendation for an increment of the Diasporan Regions to at least three, was rejected by NAC. Otherwise, Articles 16(iv), 19(xiii) and 31(e) be redrafted to reflect that recommendation.
12. Article 32(b)(iv), add the phrase “in that District”
13. Article 32(g) add the proviso that, for ordinary meetings, if the attendance is less than half of the membership, resolutions reached shall be by two thirds Majority.
14. Article 33(b)(xx) add the phrase “in that District”
15. Article 33(e), add the proviso, where the attendance is less than half, resolutions reached shall be by two thirds Majority.
16. Article 34(b)(iv), add the words “in that constituency”
17. Article 34(g), add the proviso that, for ordinary meetings where the attendance is less than half of the membership, Resolutions reached shall be by two thirds Majority.
18. 34(h) delete the phrase “and District executive Committee” to bring it in line with Article 42.
19. Article 35(e), add the proviso that, if attendance is less than half of the membership, resolutions reached shall be by two thirds Majority.
20.Article 36(g), add the proviso that, where attendance is less than half of the
membership, resolutions reached shall be by two thirds Majority.
21Article 44 delete the word “disabled” to be substituted therefor by the words
“Persons with disabilities”
22. Article 47(c)(ix), add the phrase “that are not inconsistent with this constitution”, between the word “Committee” and the fullstop.
23. Article 48(g), delete the word “accredit” to be substituted therefor by the word “affiliate”. Insert a new Article 48(h) to read thus:”accredit into the membership of the National Delegates Conference, members of such affiliate groups/organisations, provided that, the total number of such affiliate delegates shall not exceed two percent of the total delegates count/spread”. The current Article 48(h) becomes 48(i).
24. Article 50(k)(iii), delete the words “legal team” to be substituted therefor by the words “other Party lawyers”
25. Article 51, Internal Auditor to be a national Officer, elected at the NDC.
26. Article 53, delete the words “polling centre” and add ” at their levels” between the last word “officers” and the fulstop.
27. Article 54(c),insert the phrase “drawn up by the National Secretariat” between the words “regulations” and “bye” and delete the words “bye laws”.
28. Article 56(b), insert the words “contest and” between the words “to” and “be” in the first sentence and delete the word “be” in the last sentence.
29. Delete Article 58(d), as it is inconsistent with Article 48(e).
30. Article 71, delete the word “disabled” to be substituted therefor by the words ” Persons with disability”.

Be informed that, for transparency, both the marked up and clean copies of the Party’s Constitution you submitted to the Commission, were forwarded to the Objectors, for their comments and observations if any, but none of them reverted to us, as at the date herein.

Finally note that, all citations herein are referrable to the clean version. We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.