By Kelvin Jay
The Chairman of the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC), Emmanuel Koivaya Amara Esq, has warned that the All People’s Congress (APC) risks immediate suspension from all political activities if it fails to pay a fine imposed for alleged inflammatory remarks made by two of its members.
Speaking on the matter, Amara disclosed that the deadline for payment of the fine expires today at the close of business, stressing that failure to comply will compel the Commission to enforce the law.
“If by close of business today the APC has not paid the fine, the Commission will, by tomorrow, suspend the party from all political activities,” he stated.
Amara explained that the only circumstances under which the deadline could have been altered would be if the APC had either served the Commission with court documents challenging the fine or formally requested an extension of time to make payment.
“If the Commission has not been served with a court paper challenging the fine, or a letter from the APC requesting an extension of time for payment, then the Commission has no option but to proceed with the suspension,” he said.
The PPRC Chairman further insisted that Zainab Sheriff is a member of the APC, and that statements attributed to her during a recent APC mammoth meeting were profane and inflammatory, for which the party must bear responsibility.
Citing Section 39 of the Political Parties Regulation Commission Act, Amara explained that the law is explicit in holding political parties accountable for the conduct and utterances of their members, supporters, or operatives.
“Section 39 clearly states that where any member, supporter, or operative of a political party makes a statement that is profane or inflammatory, the party to which that person belongs shall be fined,” he noted.
He emphasized that the law does not concern itself with where such statements are made, whether at a party office, public rally, podium, or any other platform.
“The law does not talk about the space or the podium from which the statement is made. It applies everywhere,” Amara stressed.
According to the PPRC Chairman, the Commission is simply enforcing the law as it is written, and not acting beyond its statutory mandate.
“As a political party regulator, we are merely enforcing what the law says, and certainly not what it does not say,” he concluded.
The warning places the APC at a critical crossroads, as failure to comply with the Commission’s directive would result in its suspension from political activities nationwide.
