March 07, (THEWILL) – There was confusion on Monday over the leadership of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The development may not be unconnected with reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had reportedly ordered the removal of interim chairman Mai Mala Buni and replaced him with Niger state governor, Sani Bello.
Quoting sources within the presidency, THISDAY reported that the president approved Buni’s sack and Bello’s appointment before leaving the county to London Sunday afternoon.
But the APC on Monday refuted the report that the Buni led caretaker committee has been sacked on the orders of President Buhari.
“The APC is a progressive political party guided by rules. Leadership changes are not announced by ‘sources’ through name-dropping in the media,” APC caretaker secretary, Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe said in a statement.
Akpanudoedehe urged members of the party and the general public to remain calm and support the Buni-led caretaker committee to conduct a rancor-free and credible National Convention.
But few hours after refuting the reported sack, Governor Bello is currently holding an emergency meeting with some members of the caretaker committee of the party.
The meeting, THEWILL gathered, was convened to implement President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that in the absence of Governor Mai Mala Buni (who is away in Germany to attend to his health), Bello should act as the chairman of the party’s caretaker committee.
Bello, according to the president’s directive will hold forth for Buni, until he returns to resume his duties.
Sources within the APC disclosed that Bello will also swear in chairmen of the 36 states chapters of the party later today.
