Victor EzejaAhead of the March 26 date for the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention, crisis rocking the party seems to be going deeper as members of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) have passed a vote of no confidence on Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, secretary of the committee.
In the document dated 8th March 2022, and titled “Motion of no Confidence on the Secretary of the Caretaker & Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee”, 10 out of 12 members of the CECPC signed, ordering suspension of the secretary from every activity related to the office.
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The statement reads, “We, the members of the CECPC of the All Progressives Congress as duly constituted on the 25th of June, 2020 by the National Executive Committee of our great party, and siting in our regular meeting on the 8th Day of March 2022, hereby unanimously resolved and adopt a motion of No CONFIDENCE on the Secretary of the Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress, and direct that from today henceforth, he steps aside as the Secretary of the Committee and stop forthwith all activities and duties associated with the office.”
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Members of of the committee members who signed the motion include Abubakar Sani Bello; Sen. Ken Nnamani, Sen. Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf; Prof Tahir Mammah; Senator Abba Alli; David Lyon; Hon Akinremi Olàide; Mrs Stella Okotete, Barr Ismaeel Ahmad and Dr James Lalu.
Sen. Akpanudoedehe in a statement, however, announced cancellation of the sub-committees formed by the acting national chairman, Abubakar Sani Bello last week.
The embattled secretary released a new list of sub-committees to oversee the national convention, stating that it was the approved one by Mai Mala Buni, the chairman. He said the list now supersedes any other list in circulation.
Buni in a statement released on Thursday March 17, however, countered the purported suspension of some activities initiated and executed by the CECPC under the acting Chairman and Niger State Governor, Sani Bello.
He said the suspension is “not true”, adding that all activities carried out by the committee in his absence remain valid.
He urged all stakeholders in the party to disregard previous statement discarding the committee’s activities.
Buni specifically said he duly transmitted power to Bello to act on his behalf when he was traveling abroad for medical care.
“This is to bring to the notice of all Stakeholders and members of the party that the purported suspension of some activities initiated and executed by the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning committee under the acting Chairman and Niger State Governor, H.E. Muhammed Sani Bello, IS NOT TRUE.
“Therefore, all activities that were done in my absence remain valid and binding. All Party Stakeholders and members are hereby advised to disregard the previous statement discarding the activities of the Committee under the leadership of the Acting Chairman.
“It could be recalled that I had duly transmitted power to His Excellency, the Niger State Governor, H.E. Muhammed Sani Bello to enable me undergo medical attention. Therefore, all actions and measures taken by the Committee under his leadership as Acting Chairman, remain effective.
“The Party calls for support and understanding to move the Party forward to a successful Convention slated for March 26th, 2022,” the statement signed by Buni reads.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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