APC ‘reinstates’ Buni, Akpanudoedehe, moves to quash court orders halting March 26 National Convention

­Ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may have been forced to reinstate the Chairman of its Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), as it announced, Tuesday, that the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni remains the party leader.

Reports were rife over a coup, as party chieftains had gone to town to claim removing the CECPC chairman, Buni, along with the National Secretary, Senator John Akpanudoedehe over alleged plot by the former to elongate his tenure using the forthcoming convention as platform, among other allegations.

In the heat of the controversy, the Niger State Governor Mohammed Bello was appointed to act in Buni’s capacity, while also reconstituting the party’s convention sub-committees.

Governor Bello had even presided over a meeting of the CECPC, earlier Monday, saying he had the support of President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of the APC to organize a National Convention.

However, the ‘coup’ was bounced back when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), last Thursday, declined to attend the party’s emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which was a prelude to the National Convention, as the electoral umpire cited its non-recognition of the undersigned names of officials in the letter of invitation, insisting the commission only recognised Buni as party leader.

Since then, a plethora of litigations have flooded the party seeking court injunctions to halt the exercise slated for March 26, this year in Abuja.

Meanwhile, rising to save the situation, the ruling party, Tuesday, made a U-turn, as it reinstated and restated the authority of Buni as party chairman, and Akpanudoedehe, as secretary.

The party also announced the commencement of moves aimed at resolving all pending suit in the law courts challenging the proposed national convention.

Addressing the media, at the party national secretariat of he party in Abuja, Secretary, on Tuesday, Akpanudoedehe, dismissed reports that the Chairman, along with himself and some other officials of the CECPC have been removed from office or otherwise replaced.

He added that the APC ‘remains united in giving Nigerians the leadership and governance that it promised them.’

Clarifying on the controversy during the briefing, Akpanudoedehe insisted that the APC ‘is crisis-free, strong.’

“On the 28th day of February 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.

“In his (Buni’s) absence, sundry activities earlier scheduled for action appeared to develop fresh urgency in order to satisfy the timetable for the 2023 general elections released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), thus galvanising some within the CECPC to act in their best understanding of both the situation and the leadership dynamics in the committee/party.

“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, His Excellency, 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.

“The Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) hereby restates absolute loyalty to the APC, thanks the national organs and leadership of our party led by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, and reassures our members and citizens that the party is stronger than ever before and poised to extend her winning streak since 2015 into 2023 and beyond,” the CECPC National Secretary Senator John Akpanudoedehe, said.

On pending law suits in court, the secretary said: “The party has engaged a team of senior lawyers to address a purported court order halting the planned APC National Convention.

“We hereby call on the judiciary to give the matter the needed and expedient attention in our bid to vacate the purported court order and allow for the conduct of a transparent and rancour-free national convention deserving of our great party, APC.”

According to Akpanudoedehe, the CECPC is intact and functional as originally constituted, and delivering a seamlessly successful national convention on March 26 is the top priority for the CECPC.