APC crisis deepens as INEC rejects Governor Bello chairman and Mamman as secretary

The crisis rocking the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) has deepened as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rejected the nomination of Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State as the Chairman of Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the party.

The commission said it was not aware of any of the leadership changes in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to the source gathered by Newsflash Nigeria, Governor Bello, upon resumption as Chairman of CECPC of APC, transmitted a letter dated 9th March 2022, informing INEC of the change of guard at the party’s national secretariat.

Bello introduced himself in the said letter as Chairman while Processor Tahir Mamman was introduced as the acting Secretary of the party.

Both Governor Bello and Professor Mamman were said to have signed the letter.

The source also added that the letter served as notice to the commission, of APC’s CECPC decision to hold a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for next week Thursday, 17th March 2022.

But, in a swift reaction, the Commission was said to have replied to the letter on Thursday, 10th March 2022, saying it was not aware of any change of guard in APC.

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The document, according to a source at INEC, remains strange as there was no time the Commission was invited to observe or monitor any meeting where the changes took place, hence, the letter was rejected.

“Section 82(2-3) of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) makes it mandatory for all registered political parties in Nigeria to involve INEC in any meeting, congress or convention where elections or decisions to nominate executives or governing bodies of the party shall be taken.

“The same section also provided that, in a case of replacement of any vacant position in the party, INEC must be fully involved too”, the Source said.

The source further maintained that the Commission was not invited to any meeting or Congress where Mai Buni was removed as Chairman, and as such, could not deal with what was not legally constituted.

“The APC will be heading for an illegal NEC meeting by next week by the provision of the law. It is the duty of the Commission to properly guide the party, just as it will do to any of the opposition parties”, the Source added.

The ousted caretaker chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mai Mala Buni, is due in London to confer with President Muhammadu Buhari, it was learnt last night.

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Sources said Buni, who was expected to rush back home on Wednesday from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where he went for medical.

Recall that the Niger State Governor had on Monday took over the leadership of the APC, claiming he has the backing of President Buhari.

Confirming the change of leadership, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State said Buni who is on a medical trip in Dubai had been removed and won’t return as chairman.

El-Rufai accused the Yobe governor of widening crisis in the party, claiming that those loyal to Buni had obtained a court order to stop the APC convention from holding.

Also, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State had accused Buni and some ‘yahoo yahoo‘ governors of trying to destroy the APC.

Backing Buni, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State had said the Yobe governor will return as the party chairman after his medical trip.

Speaking to his supporters, the embattled governor insisted that there was no crisis in the ruling party.

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