APC youths split over Buni leadership, as faction backs party Caretaker Chairman

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The youth wing of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the weekend sharply divided into those for and against the party’s Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) led by Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State.

After an emergency meeting of youth wing identified as Zonal and State youth leaders and critical youth stakeholders members of APC at the national secretariat of the party on thursday, they also threatened to sign a petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Director General of Department of State Services (DSS) and the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, against the Progressive Youth Movement (PYM).

Recall that last week, a faction of the youth wing of the ruling party had, in a press conference, told journàlists that they have dissolved the Mai Mala Buni led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC of APC and constituted another in its stead, even as it charged it to hold a parallel convention in February next year.

However, the Zonal and State youth leaders and critical youth stakeholders members of APC, after its emergency meeting, issued a communiqué in which it vowed unalloyed support for the Buni led CECPC, even as it condemned the actions and the PGM as irritating and careless.

In the communiqué, the group said the meeting resolved that “we are fully in support of the CECPC.

“That we consider any attack on the CECPC as attack on the president and the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the youth leadership therefore will not entertain any further mischief from any quarters.

“That the Youth leadership of party will sign a petition to the DSS, the IGP and the AGF to bring to book these imposters who are trying to cause breach of public peace, as APC youth will not tolerate any further attack by some mischief makers on Mr. President and the leadership of the party.

“That all States Youth leaders should take note of all activities of Youth Support Groups in their respective States and in particular the said Group.

“That all Security agencies should take note of any other attempt by the said Group to attack the APC or any of her supporters and leaders.”

It earlier observed that “Nigeria as a multiparty democracy, operates under the rule of law, and no law, including The Not Too Young To Run Act, confers on any citizen or group under any guise the right of lawlessness or impunity in action, irrespective of actual or perceived grievance(s).

“THAT the All Progressives Congress is Nigeria’s Governing Party it is duly registered as political party by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as required by the Law. Therefore, all operations of the party must be guided by Constitutional provisions of federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act and the party’s Constitution.

“THAT His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, by all laws and conventions in Nigeria, is the undisputed leader of our Party and of her National Executive Committee (NEC) and is not only entitled to, but must be accorded, the full compliments of his person and various offices per time.

“THAT the Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the APC set up by NEC under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State as Chairman is proper and lawful in all ramifications

“THAT the so-called Progressives Youth Movement led by Mustapha Audu does not have any constional right to preside, speak for or represent any openion(s) of the Wing of the party.

“THAT the PYM, once before and again on Monday, 29th November, 2021 made a very public attempt to overthrow the legitimately constituted leadership of the APC in a manner that can only be described as felonious. The legimate Youth leadership of the party sees their actions as an insult to the sensibility of all APC members in Nigeria

“The PYM appears to be heavily funded by and deeply in the service of vicious vested interests with sole intent on the destabilising the APC as a party and will be gratified by a resultant breakdown of Law and Order in Nigeria if not curtailed.”