APC Reacts To INEC’s Rejection Of Sani-Bello’s Leadership

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to the rejection of Governor Sani Bello of Niger State as its caretaker chairman by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Recall that Bello had on Wednesday written to INEC in his capacity as the acting national chairman of the party inviting the commission to their National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for next week Thursday via zoom.

The ruling party in the letter to the electoral commission revealed a change of guard from Governor Mai Mala Buni to his Niger counterpart.

Replying to the APC’s letter, INEC denied knowledge of the leadership change in the ruling party, saying it only recognises Governor Buni as the authentic chairman of the party.

The commission also told the ruling party that it was only the national chairman and national secretary of the party that could write such a letter.

Speaking on Friday in a chat with reporters, interim spokesman for the party, Ismaeel Ahmed, said the rejection of the party’s letter by INEC was being sorted out.

Ahmed explained that while governor Buni, who is away on a medical trip to Dubai, remained substantive Caretaker Chairman, Bello was only acting in his absence.

He said: “So, Governor Sani Bello is acting the full authority of the Caretaker Committee and with the full authority of the stakeholders and with the full consent of Governor Mai Mala Buni. It is very clear and simple. If anybody has issues with any of our decisions, he can head to court. For now, we are doing it with the full backing of the law. So, there is no ambiguity on this, absolutely none.

“On the issue of Senator John James Akpanudodehe, what is the position because I spelt others out the other members of the committee, but I didn’t say anything about other people as well, we just talked about members of the committee. I didn’t talk about their positions, whether secretary or chairman, since they have their responsibilities spelt out for them.

“The other members are the ones told to come back to handle specific departments and that is what we are doing. In the full course of time, once all these are over, I will be able to brief you. But for now, these are the responsibilities of every member.

“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.

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

“The CECPC committee chaired by His Excellency the Governor of Niger State has issued a notice for a meeting of the National Executive Committee of the party on March 17, 2022. As usual, a number of important issues will be discussed at the meeting.”