Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello who has taken over as the acting national chairman All Progressives Congress Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) has assumed office.
This is barring speculations that President Muhammadu Buhari who left for London on medical check-up had unilaterally sacked Yobe state Governor, Mai Mala Buni from superintending the affairs of the CECPC.
The meeting has nine out of the 12 members of the Caretaker Committee of the party in attendance.
The secretary of the party, Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, who had earlier denied a leadership change in the party is also at the meeting.
Bello, who made his position known after presiding over a ceremony to administer oath of office on state chairmen of the party on Monday in Abuja, said he has been operating as acting national chairman of the APC since Governor Buni travelled.
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The CECPC, which had on February 3 inaugurated the state executives of the party but either by commission or omission, did not administer any oath on the party chiefs. The development had consequently put the validity of their election as chairmen in doubt.
However, on Monday, Governor Bello said; “The States Chairmen, they took their oath of office today and we discussed progress made so far on Convention and what needs to be done next so that we will achieve the March 26 date for Convention.”
Asked in what capacity he presided over the meeting, Bello said; “Acting Chairman. I have been acting for a while since the Chairman traveled.”
Before the President left for London, he has alleged to have signed off on Senator Abdullahi Adamu as National Chairman, Senator John Akpanudoedehe from the South-South geopolitical zone as National Secretary, and Senator Ken Nnamani from the South-East as Deputy National Chairman (South).
Buhari also signed off on other positions that have been pinned down to geopolitical zones.
A faction of the APC governors was said to have complained bitterly to the president that Buni was not inclined to hold the convention as rescheduled, because there were no preparations on the ground to indicate so.
Bello has taken over the affairs of the party as the ‘sole administrator’ of the party, it was gathered.
The police numbering about 70 came in 10 vehicles and condoned off the secretariat of the party at Blantyre street to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
The police cordoned off the secretariat as early as 8am on Monday.
Earlier, Akpanudoedehe had, in a statement issued on Monday, described the media report about leadership change as fake news and should be disregarded.
He said: “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 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 to conduct a rancour-free and credible National Convention deserving of our great party.”
