By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
The ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) yesterday witnessed a friezny of actions as two Governors who are members of the party’s Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), including Mai Mala Buni of Yobe and Abubakar Bello of Niger, laid claim to the chairmanship position, even amidst heavy security presence.
As the media space, especially the social media, became awash with report that President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the sack of Buni as CECPC Chairman with immediate effect and replaced him with the Niger Governor Bello, the National Secretary of the party’s Caretaker Committee, John James Akpanudoedehe, issued a statement early morning of Monday, dismissing the alleged leadership change in APC.
The statement titled ‘FAKE NEWS: No Leadership Change in APC CECPC’, said “Our attention has been drawn to sponsored media reports on an imaginary leadership change in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).
“The media report is fake news and should be disregarded.
“The APC is a progressive political party guided by rules. Leadership changes are not announced by ‘sources’ through name dropping in the media.
“We urge our teeming supporters, members and indeed the general public to remain calm and support the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led APC CECPC conduct a rancour-free and credible National Convention deserving of our great party.”
However, though Buni is said to be currently out of the country on medical trip, but in confirmation of the news Sunday night that some APC Governors are planning to seize the opportunity of his absence to remove him from office at a meeting held in Niger Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro area of Abuja, Monday morning witnessed the arrival of Governor Bello at the APC Secretariat, amidst rousing welcome by his supporters.
Immediately after entering the party’s National secretariat, the Niger Governor performed his first function by swearing in the newly elected State Chairmen at the National Executive Committee (NEC) Hall of the party.
To heighten the suspicion that there are wider cracks in APC resulting in different camps dropping President Muhammadu Buhari’s name to feather their political nest and satisfy their respective interests, some members of the Caretaker Committee, including the Osun Governor, Gboyega Oyetola and the member House of Representatives in the Committee were absent. Though a good number of other members were present.
Similarly, a source close to Buni, who does not want to be mentioned because of lack of authorisation to speak on the matter for Buni, said nobody has officially communicated to the Yobe Governor that he has been removed, adding that the information only got to him through the media.
But fielding questions from journàlists after the meeting with the CECPC members around, Governor Bello said “The State Chairmen took their oath of Office today and we discussed progress made so far on Convention and what needs to be done next so that we will achieve the March 26 date for Convention.”
On the capacity upon which he is presiding over the meeting, Governor Bello said “Acting Chairman, I have been acting for a while since the Chairman traveled”, even though he said he has no comment on the report that he has taken over the leadership of the party from Buni as mandated by President Buhari.
On the question of the heavy security presence, the governor said: “Well, every time there is a major event, we beef up security. Today we have a major event and all the chairmen came in. And they are to maintain law and order”.
He promised to be at the party Secretariat almost everyday, adding “Most of my colleagues are here to support me to receive the report. You know the zoning committee report is a very important one. And all the governors here are here to support me. Now, at zonal level, they can go and do their work”.
Meanwhile, a statement issued yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Niger State Governor, Mary Noel-Berje, said “The Acting Chairman APC Caretaker Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello has received the report of the Zoning Committee of the Party.
“The report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, at the National Secretariat of the Party, Abuja.
“Receiving the report, the Acting Chairman commended members of the Committee for a job well done.
“I will like to thank you for this assignment handled in a very matured manner. This is the beginning of good things to come to our party. This exercise was hitch free and by God’s grace every other exercise will be hitch free”, he said.
It said Governor Bello described the zoning system as a representation of fairness and equity in the Party.
Earlier, the chairman, APC Zoning Committee and Governor of Kwara state, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who thanked the Party for the opportunity to serve, said the Committee’s assignment was completed within the time frame of the responsibility.
He also commended members of the Committee for their commitment to the success of the assignment.
The Committee was inaugurated to ensure just and equitable sharing formula of leadership positions in all the geopolitical zones in the country.
