… INEC Faults Process of Removing Chairman

… Says Appropriate Notice Had Been Served

A spanner may have been thrown in the works of the ruling All Progressives Congress as the Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday rejected a letter inviting it to an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee scheduled for next week.

This has further compounded the confusion that had engulfed the party since Monday when it announced a leadership change with Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state replacing Governor Mai Buni of Yobe state as the Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC)

The Governor Sani-Bello leadership had written a letter to INEC inviting it to its special National Executive Council (NEC) meeting next week.

But INEC in a response dated March 9, 2022, signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran Anthony, titled, “Re: Invitation to the emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee”, and addressed to the National Chairman, APC CECPC highlighted what the newly signed Electoral Act says on invitation to meetings and congresses of political parties.

The commission also drew the attention of the CECPC to the fact that the letter of invitation was not signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the CECPC, Governor Mai Buni and Senator John Akpanudoedehe, respectively.

This, it noted, was contrary to the provision of Article 1.1.3 of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Party Operations (2018).

The INEC’s letter reads: “Please refer to your letter Ref.APC/NHDQ/INEC/019/022/32, dated 8th March 2022.

“The Commission draws your attention to the fact that the notice for the meeting was not signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the CECPC contrary to the provision of the Article 1.1.3 of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Party Operations (2018).

“Furthermore, the APC is reminded of the provision in Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which requires at least 21 days’ notice of any convention, congress, conference, or meeting convened for the purpose of ‘merger’ and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any elective office.

“While hoping these issues are noted for compliance, please accept the assurance of the Commission’s warm regards.”

The letter has further thrown the APC into further crisis with some chieftains advocating for the reinstatement of the Governor Mai Buni leadership to complete the process it has started and avoid future litigations while others including 19 Governors have foreclosed the return of Governor Mai Buni, with Governor El Rufai saying his removal was sanctioned by President Buhari who is currently abroad for medical checkup.

The APC has vehemently rejected INEC’s position saying that its convention would go on March 26, as earlier scheduled. It dismissed the letter written to it by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the need to give the Commission a 21-day notice for its national convention slated for March 26.

Spokesman of the party’s Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC, Barr. Ismaila Ahmed disclosed this at a news conference Friday in Abuja.

He said the party had earlier intimated the commission of its intent to conduct its national convention on February 26 and that what is now required for its new date of March 26 is simply a notice of an adjustment and not a fresh 21-day notice.

Barr Ahmed said “as part of efforts towards the hitch-free conduct of the March 26th National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) stepped up preparations this week.

Summary of activities by the CEPC:

“Convened a meeting chaired by the Acting Chairman and Governor of Niger state Abubakar Sani Bello where strategies were adopted to fast-track the process towards conducting a National Convention;

“35 state chairmen of the APC and that of the FCT were sworn-in and mandated to work towards ensuring unity and harmony in their states. They were also charged to mobilise the members and the people to enable the party win future elections;

“Received and deliberated on the report of the Committee on zoning. After exhaustively deliberating on the report, it was approved and the zoning formula was made public. The zoning formula was well received by members of the party and all Nigerians;

“Assigned schedules of specific responsibilities to each member of the Caretaker Committee aligned to the existing directorates at the Party’s headquarters. The purpose is to ensure speedy execution of the various activities leading to the National Convention on March 26, 2022. The exercise has the additional benefit of ensuring synergy between the leadership of the party and the Directorates;

“Deliberated on and disagreed with the Federal High Court in its judgment on the status of the Governor of Ebonyi state over his sound decision to leave the PDP and join the APC along with the majority of members of the State House of Assembly; CECPC regards the judgement as a travesty of justice and stand with the Governor and Ebonyi state legislators on appealing to a higher Court

Meanwhile, a letter written by Governor Mai Buni suggests that he may have voluntarily delegated his duties to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello. In the leaked letter, Buni transferred control of APC to Governor Bello with an intension to return as chairman after medical trip to UAE

The letter reads: “This is to inform you that I will be embarking on a medical trip to the United Arab Emirates from today, February 28, 2022. I will resume office upon my discharge from the hospital.

“In my absence, I hereby transmit the functions of my office as the National Chairman of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee to you. This is to enable the committee to conclude all arrangements leading to the national convention slated for March 26, 2022, and other duties that may be required of the office.

“I invite all members to cooperate with Governor Abubakar Sani Bello by extending to him all the support that I have enjoyed from you.”

But the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, had on Wednesday confirmed that Buni would not return as the APC acting chairman. He alleged that the governor had concluded plans to scuttle the party’s national convention through frivolous court injunction.

El-Rufai said: “Buni is gone, the Secretary is gone. Gov. Bello is in charge and he has the backing of President Muhammadu Buhari and 19 governors. Buni can only return as Governor of Yobe but never as chairman of our Party.

“President Buhari ordered his removal and this has been implemented. Governor Bello has taken over and things are moving according to plan. Party will be restored and, convention will take place as scheduled. 19 governors and their deputies are solidly behind this move.

“Buni and his people got a court order to stop the convention but hid it.”

It seems a thick cloud has engulfed the APC with some analysts suggesting that the handling or mishandling of the situation at hand would determine the future existence of the party. Some persons have postulated an implosion before a disintegration of the Party.