Court sacks Buni, entire APC CECPC, as party expels Adamawa council leader for criticising Buhari

Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, the Delta State capital, Wednesday, restrained Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State and others from parading themselves as Chairman and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee  (CECPC) until the determination of a substantive suit before the court.

Justice Onome Marshal Umukoro, who presided over the matter, also stopped the Party’s scheduled Local Government Congress in Delta State slated for September 4, 2021.

Olorogun Elvis Ayomanor, who is the APC Deputy Chairman in the state had led other officials of the party in the state to the Court, challenging the outcome of the Ward Congress in the State.

Meanwhile, the APC / CECPC has finally expelled the Caretaker Chairman for Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Sulaiman Adamu, who has been under suspension for allegedly openly criticizing President Muhammadu Buhari during a Town Hall meeting of the party in the council.

The Adamawa chapter of the party had confirmed the suspension of its Yola South Local Government Area Chairman, Suleiman Adamu, who also doubles as a members of the State Executive Committee (SEC) for allegedly ‘openly criticising’ President Muhammadu Buhari, in a viral audio tape.

Adamu was suspended from the party after a viral audio, in which he allegedly criticised President Buhari and pledged allegiance to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, emerged, during a reconciliation meeting chaired by former Adamawa state governor, Jibrilla Bindow.

However, rising from its 16th meeting of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) held at the National Secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, the APC leadership opted to formally expel Adamu after initially placing him on suspension over the incident which occurred on August 10.

A statement on Thursday by John Akpan Udoedehe, APC National Secretary said the expulsion takes immediate effect.

The scribe said it was part of the resolutions reached the 16th meeting of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) held at the National Secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday.

He disclosed that the party received and deliberated on the report of Adamu’s infractions and recommendations of the 7-member disciplinary committee set up by the Adamawa State Working Committee.

The APC condemned Adamu for making “unwholesome utterances on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Leader of the Party”.

“He was also found guilty of bringing the image of the party to disrepute thereby creating doubt on his leadership quality and loyalty to the party.”

The CECPC told members to always demonstrate and restraint and desist from acts and utterances that are inimical to the interest of the ruling platform.

It would be recalled that Bindow, defeated by former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Governor Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had convened a meeting of his allies as part of consultations as he prepares to join the 2023 governorship race.

The parley was attended by Adamu, ex-Adamawa Speaker, Kabiru Mijinyawa; ex-Administrator, Yola West Development Area, Abubakar Sirimbai; ex-Commissioner, Aliyu Mustapha, and ex-adviser, Yusha’u Adamu.

In leaked audio, Adamu attacked Buhari for his leadership, complaining bitterly about the state of the country and the party.

“Even Buhari himself, what is his impact on the party? Of what value is he to us? How I wish he had contracted coronavirus, so that Osinbajo would take over,”Adamu said in Fulfulde.

A press statement release issued immediately by the Adamawa chapter’s Publicity Secretary of APC, Mohammed Abdullahi, while confirming the suspension of Adamu, back in August also stated that the APC was disturbed by the audio.

In the audio, Adamu allegedly wished that Buhari was killed by coronavirus.

The release statement read: “As a party, we came across an audio clip that is widely circulating in the social media which emanates from the Stakeholders meeting of our party in Yola South Local Government Area.

“In light of the above, we had an emergency SWC meeting today (10/08/2021) where the audio clip was replayed, digested and deliberated upon.

“At the end it was observed that some of the words/remarks in the audio clip were most unfortunate and require further investigation.

“Consequently, a 7-man disciplinary committee has been set up by the SWC to investigate the issues in the audio clip and make appropriate recommendations for action.

“In order to ensure unhindered investigation and fair hearing, the SWC has resolved that the APC Caretaker Chairman, Yola South Local Government (Alh. Suleiman Adamu) who is a member of the State Executive Committee be suspended pending the outcome of the investigation by the 7-man disciplinary committee.

“Meanwhile, the APC Local Government Vice Chairman (Alh. Adamu Majekano) is mandated to take over as Acting Chairman, Yola South.

“Finally, we urge our Stakeholders at all levels not to allow unpleasant comments/remarks during party meetings of any nature.”