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As party cancels NEC
By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
President Muhammadu Buhari has brought the raging crisis in the All Progressive Congress (APC) to a dramatic end, as yesterday, he took side with the embattled chairman of the party’s Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Mai Mala Buni, apparently for the purpose of erring on the side of caution given the illegality that he feared may bring the party into extinction.
This is as the emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting earlier scheduled for today by the faction of the party led by Niger Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, has been cancelled.
In a letter which Peoples Daily obtained through a privileged source yesterday, Buhari, who cited legal concerns over the aborted leadership change in the party and the potentials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nullifying all activities of a new leader aside Mai Mala Buni, ordered that status quo ante be maintained by all the parties in the leadership tursle ahead the convention.
In the letter which was copied to the chairman of APC Governors Forum, Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, the Director General of Department of State Services (DSS), the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the President also asked Governor Sani Bello of Niger State, who has been acting chairman of the CECPC in Buni’s absence, Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, among others in the conflict, to file behind Mai Mala Buni.
In the latter, which warned that the controversies and uncertainties posed a real threat to the party, Buhari mandated that the Mai Mala Buni-led CECC should, accordingly, be allowed to proceed with all necessary preparations to hold the convention as planned unfailingly, on 26 March, 2022.
“In view of the foregoing, therefore, I would like now to direct as follows: (a). First, the issue of the leadership of the Caretaker Extra Ordinary Convention Committee (CECC), should immediately return to status quo ante:
“(b). Second, ail members of the Govemors’ Forum and their followers should desist from any behaviour or utterance that will likely lead to disunity in the ranks of the party, and ultimately jeopardise the transition to the convention;
“(c). Third, the Mai Mala Buni-led CECC should, accordingly, be allowed to proceed with all necessary preparations to hold the convention as planned unfailingly, on 26” March, 2022”, Buhari said in the letter.
Part of the latter reads “As you are, no doubt aware, the All Progressives Congress, APC, is currently facing a litany of controversies and some level of uncertainties that may ultimately question its status and affect the status and feasibility of its proposed National Convention.
“In addition, it has come to my attention that, because of recent events, the APC is faced with a multiplicity of court cases pending against it in various courts across the country. As a resutt of this, the party faces the possibility and prospect of the invalidation of all its activities and actions by the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Furthermore, the party has demonstrated its inability to proceed with the issue of effecting change in the leadership of its Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Committee (CECC), in a way that is inclusive, legal and respectful of the time limit set and required for giving the INEC sufficient notice of the time and venue for holding its convention.
“No doubt, these controversies and uncertainties, as enumerated above, pose a real threat to the party; and may lead to a possible nonrecognition of its activities, elections and the probable invalidation of all its other actions by INEC. This may ultimately even lead its implosion and non existence.
“There is, therefore, an urgent need for the party to, as much as possible, avoid all controversies, litigations and all other necessary distractions and quickly get its acts together.”
Recall that the ruling APC has been engulfed in crisis over who is the authentic leader, after the Niger Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, took over the party’s leadership last week Monday.
The moves were said to be based on clear directives by President Buhari before he traveled to London for medical leave, according to Kaduna State Governor, El-Rufai, who spoke on a television programme. The offence of Buni was that he allegedly plotted to truncate the National convention of the ruling party, to foster his perceived vice presidential ambition ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
However, Buni, who had traveled to the United Arab Emirates for medical attention, reportedly relocated to London where President Buhari went for his own medicals, to explain his own side of the story.
Obviously working in his interest, a letter written by the supposed acting chairman of CECPC, Abubakar Sani Bello, to INEC, asking it to monitor the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) today, was rejected, as the Commission insisted that in accordance to its rules and the laws, only Governor Buni and his secretary, John James Akpanudoedehe, has the authority of correspondence with it.
With this signaling the calamity which awaits the ruling party ahead of the general election, the President may have decided to intervene to maintain serenity in the acclaimed Africa’s largest party.
Meanwhile, the emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting earlier scheduled for today by the faction of the party led by Niger Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, has been cancelled.
A statement titled ‘Purported APC NEC Meeting Canceled’, which was issued by the National Secretary of the party’s CECPC led by Buni, James Akpanudoedehe, said “As directed by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning (CECPC) and Governor of Yobe State, H.E. Mai Mala Buni, a purported emergency meeting of the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) slated for Thursday, March 17, 2022 is hereby cancelled.
