.Dep Chair, Others N10m, N5m Respectively

.Buhari Loses to 19 APC Govs as Buni-led CECPC Reclaims Seat

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has pegged the cost of  its national chairmanship nomination form at N20m, while that for deputy national chairmanship position
goes N10 million.

Forms for other positions in the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party will attract N5 million each. The sale of forms began on Monday, March 14, to end on March 18.
The National Convention of the party is slated for Saturday, March 26, 2022.

The interested aspirants have until Friday, March 18 to be pick up their nomination forms.

Meanwhile, the Governor Buni-led Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) has reclaimed its lost position after its sack by President Buhari. Last week, Governor el-Rufai of Kaduna State confirmed to the media that President Buhari sacked the Mai Mala Buni-led CECPC and  appointed the Niger State governor, Sani Bello on the pisition following a restraining court order on the party’s national convention, which the CECPC allegedly received and kept it to himself. Prof Mamman Tahir was also appointed in place of Akpanudoedehe.
With the takeover by the Niger state governor, and declaration that he was the anointed man in-charge, Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, National Secretary, APC (CECPC) openly
excused himself from his office.
However, he re-emerged yesterday in office after eight days, declaring  that there was no leadership crisis in the party.
Speaking with newsmen at APC’snational secretariat on Tuesday in Abuja, he said that the CECPC remained intact and functional as originally constituted.

He said the emphasis had become necessary to clarify issues in the party following events in the preceding week.

He reassured the party’s members and stakeholders and Nigerians generally,  that the APC was crisis-free, strong and remained united in giving the country the transformative leadership and good governance it promised.

Akpanudoedehe  added that the CECPC since it was inaugurated by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) on June 25, 2020, had done its best to steer its affairs in line with its mandate.

He explained that contrary to reports, Gov. Mai Mala Buni, Chairman of the CECPC took a long-delayed trip abroad on health grounds.

He added that before leaving, Buni left written authorisation for other members of the CECPC to continue work in his absence, particularly the day to day management of the APC.

“In his absence, sundry activities earlier scheduled for action appeared to develop fresh urgency in order to satisfy the timetable for the 2023 general elections released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“Thus galvanising someone within the CECPC to act in their best understanding of both the situation and the leadership dynamics in the committee,” he said.

The APC scribe added that all such actions were clearly identified at all times as happening in an acting or proxy capacity, and under the auspices of the substantive chairman.

“Contrary to widespread speculations that the chairman, secretary or some other officials of the CECPC have been removed from office or otherwise replaced.

“The CECPC is intact and functional as originally constituted,” he said, adding that delivering a seamlessly successful National Convention for the APC on March 26, was of priority to the committee.

He further added that the committee would continue to execute its assignments legally,  pending the return of Buni, its chairman.

He said Buni would resume office on arrival with the full support of all members and other stakeholders of the APC.

He lauded INEC for its firm guidance in the entire circumstances, saying that the party had meanwhile engaged a team of senior lawyers to address a purported court order, halting the party’s planned national convention.

He urged  the judiciary to give the matter the needed and expedient attention in order to vacate the purported court order.

According to him, this is necessary to allow for the conduct of a transparent and rancour-free national convention deserving of the APC.

He restated the loyalty of the CECPC to the APC,  thanked its national organs and leadership and President Muhammadu Buhari for the opportunity to serve.

He reassured members of the party and Nigerians generally that the party was stronger than ever before and poised to extend her winning streak since 2015 into 2023 and beyond.

It could be recalled that Akpanudoedehe had packed his things out of the National Secretariat of the APC on Tuesday last week following the take over of the office of the National Chairman by the Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello.
The action of the National Secretary of the CECPC gave room to speculation that he had resigned or sacked from his office.
He quickly debunked the speculation about his resignation on Tuesday last week.
However, after over a week of speculations and reactions, Akpanudoedehe returned yesterday to his office at the National Secretariat of APC.
The National Secretary returned to the party shortly after the police cordoned off the Blantyre Street location of the secretariat at Wuse 2.
Buni and Akpanudoedehe victory owes much to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refusal to recognize Governor Sani Bello and Prof Mamman Tahir as Chairman and Secretary respectively.
Prior to that, the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El Rufai had said that the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, and Akpanudoedehe were removed through presidential directive.
El Rufai had said on Channels Television ‘Politics Today’ that Buni and his men procured a secret court order to sabotage the national convention of the APC
With INEC’s denial of recognition to Governor Bello and Professor Tahir, APC governors, numbering 19 condemned President Buhari’s unilateral action, declaring individually that it will not stand. With the groundswell against the President, his camp  sought to save its face by announcing that Governor Bello was only acting on behalf of Buni who is away on a medical trip.