Contrary to his purported removal from office by some mass media, Senator James John Akpanudoedehe, the National Secretary of Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has confirmed that he remains the national secretary.
Akpanudoedehe who in an interview with journalists at the APC National Secretariat on Friday dispelled the rumour of his removal as the national secretary.
According to him, this was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that status quo ante should be maintained.
This is as the Chairman of CECPC of the APC and Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni and the secretary were seen at the APC National Secretariat on Friday continuing preparations for Saturday’s national convention of the party.
“Our chairman (Buni) cannot go against the instruction of the president. In his last letter, the president has given the directive that the status quo ante should remain. The chairman is a very brilliant man, he respects the president and will not go against that.
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“I am the National Secretary of APC and the Constitution is very clear on that. The INEC has said for you to sack any of us, you need 21 days’ notice.
“I should be celebrated for standing with the chairman. We should celebrate loyalty, integrity. Why would I be punished for standing with the chairman? It is a virtue. So, nothing has changed in APC. I remain the national secretary and reconciliation efforts are ongoing. It is one party,” Akpanudoedehe said.
Meanwhile, the Buni-led APC caretaker committee has continued reconciliatory efforts by meeting with aggrieved chieftains of the party ahead of the convention.
The efforts, it was gathered, were to ensure that the forthcoming convention is seamless and that party stakeholders and members are united for a successful outing at the convention and at the general elections.
