Governor Mai Mala Buni
By Our Reporter
The crisis currently rocking the All Progressives Congress has taken a new turn as men, who are loyal to the Chairman, Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Governor Mai Mala Buni, on Tuesday, consolidated their hold on the party after surviving last week’s attempt to remove them.
The Secretary of the CECPC, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, who had not made a public appearance in the last one week, returned to the party’s secretariat amid tight security Last Monday.
The secretary was welcomed by jubilant members of staff, who exchanged pleasantries with him. Afterwards, Akpanudoedehe was escorted to his office by four policemen wielding AK-47 rifles.
In a statement he signed on behalf of the APC caretaker committee, the secretary promised that the national convention would hold on March 26 as planned.
The statement read, “On February 28, 2022, the CECPC Chairman took a long-delayed trip abroad on health grounds, leaving behind written authorisation for other members of the CECPC to continue work in his absence, particularly the day-to-day management of the APC.
“That in his absence, sundry activities earlier scheduled for action appeared to develop fresh urgency to satisfy the timetable for the 2023 general elections released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, thus galvanising some within the CECPC to act in their best understanding of both the situation and the leadership dynamics in the committee/party.
“That all such actions were clearly identified at all times as happening in an acting or proxy capacity, and under the auspices of the substantive chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni, contrary to widespread speculations that the chairman, secretary or some other officials of the CECPC have been removed from office or otherwise replaced. That the CECPC is intact and functional as originally constituted.”
It would be recalled that the APC crisis started when Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello of Niger State stormed the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and took over the affairs of the party as the new national caretaker committee chairman.
When he arrived, he was cheered and referred to as ‘chairman’ by some party faithful quickly entered into a closed-door meeting with some party chieftains.
The move is contrary to the position of secretary of the national caretaker committee, Senator James Akpan Udohedehe, who had earlier dismissed the reported removal of Governor Mai Mala Buni as fake news.
Akpanudoedehe denied any planned change of leadership in the party, describing it as fake news.
He stated in a statement: “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.”
