As the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) approaches, the party appears to be in a web of confusion. The Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) led by Mai Mala Buni and the President Muhammadu Buhari/Progressives Governors alliance are apparently working at cross purposes on election of the party’s national officers.
Upon arrival from the AU-EU Summit, President Buhari had met with the APC governors where he endorsed Senator Adamu Abdullahi from Nassarawa State as national chairman and requested that the governors handle appointment of persons for other offices of the party at national and zonal levels.
Prime Business Africa gathered that at the March 1, 2022 meeting, Buhari specifically signed page-by-page the document detailing the zoning arrangement for national offices of the party according to the six geo-political zones
Join our WhatsApp ChannelBut in a new twist of events, the CECPC on Wednesday constituted a new zoning committee led by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazak to possibly review and oversee zoning of national offices of the party.
According to a statement signed by the CECPC National Secretary, Sen. John James Akpanudodehe, the national chairman and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni approved the Party’s zoning committee for the forthcoming National Convention.
Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman has been appointed to head the eight-man committee, Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege was appointed as the Deputy Chairman, while Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Nkem Okeke, would be the Secretary.
Other members of the zoning committee include: Prof. Etim Nyong, Member; Dr. M.B. Shehu, Member; Comrade Mustapha Salihu, Member; Senator Teslim Folarin, Member; and Alh. Sadeeq Sule-Iko Sami, Member.
The Committee according to the statement, is expected to submit its report on Monday 7th March, 2022.
Observers of the activities within the APC lately have indicated that the Buni-led CECPC, has been working against the decision of the president and the governors on the national convention and election of individuals to manage the national offices of the party, and as such is bent on doing anything possible to sabotage the upcoming national convention to their favour.
In an open complain, Salihu Mohammed Lukman, an APC Chieftain, accused Buni of working for his personal interest. He said the current national chairman has been working with Kogi State Governor, Yaya Bello, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and a few others, to ensure that their interest holds sway as some of them were said to be aspiring to either become presidential or vice-presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 general elections.
“His Excellency Mai Mala Buni, in flagrant disregard to every known procedure of managing affairs of the party relate only with His Excellency Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, His Excellency Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and His Excellency Dapo Abiodu of Ogun State based on the plot to retain His Excellency Mai Mala Buni as Chairman of the Party up to the time of conducting the primary that will produce candidates for 2023 elections.
“The other person who is also active in this political ponzi scheme is the CECPC Secretary, Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe, who is also aspiring to emerge as the Akwa Ibom Governorship candidate of the APC for 2023 elections,” Lukman had stated last week.
Some of the governors on their part, appear to have disagreed with some of the national offices of the party allocated to their zones.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
