The crisis bedeviling the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) may have started yielding negative effects on the party as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rejected the nomination of Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello as the Chairman of Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the party.

According to an insider source, Governor Bello, upon resumption as Chairman of CECPC of APC, transmitted a letter dated 8th March 2022, informing INEC of the change of guard at the party’s national secretariat.

Bello introduced himself in the said letter as acting Chairman while Professor Tahir Mamman was introduced as the acting Secretary of the party.

Both Governor Bello and Professor Mamman were said to have signed the letter.

The source also added that the letter served as notice to the commission, of APC’s CECPC decision to hold a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for next week Thursday, 17th March, 2022.

But, in a swift reaction, the Commission replied to the letter on Wednesday, 9th March 2022, saying it was not aware of any change of guard in APC, and would not honour it, since it was not signed by the known CECPC Chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni and Secretary, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe.

The letter was signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs Rose Omoa Oriaran-Anthony.

Governor Bello’s letter, according to a source at INEC, remains strange as there was no time the Commission was invited to observe or monitor any meeting where the changes took place, hence, the letter was not honoured.

“Section 82 (2-3) of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) makes it mandatory for all registered political parties in Nigeria to involve INEC in any meeting, congress or convention where elections or decisions to nominate executives or governing bodies of the party shall be taken.

“The same section also provided that, in a case of replacement of any vacant position in the party, INEC must be fully involved too,” the source added.

The source further maintained that the Commission was not invited to any meeting or Congress where Buni was removed as Chairman, and as such, could not deal with what was not legally constituted.

“The APC will be heading for an illegal NEC meeting by next week by the provision of the law. It is the duty of the Commission to properly guide the party, just as it will do to any of the opposition parties,” the source further stressed.

INEC/DEPM/APC/278/1/43
09th March, 2022
National Chairman
All Progressives Congress (APC)
Caretaket/Extraordinary Convention
Planning Committee (CECPC)
No. 40, Blantyre Street
Wuse 2, Abuja.

RE: INVITATION TO THE EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE (NEC)

1. Please refer to your letter Ref. APC/NHDQ/INEC/019/022/32, dated 8th March 2022.

2. The Commission draws your attention to the fact that the notice for the meeting was not signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the CECPC contrary to the provision of the Article 1.1.3 of the Commission's Regulations and Guidelines for Political Party Operations (2018).

3. Furthermore, the APC is reminded of the provision in Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 which requires 'at least 21 days' notice of any Convention, Congress, Conference, or meeting convened for the purpose of "merger" and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any elective offices."

4. While hoping these issues are noted for compliance, please accept the assurance of the Commission's warm regards.

LordIsaac:
Hmmmm.....APC....Let me reiterate, APC is a party of Buhari, by Buhari for Buhari. And when his tenure ends, the party may end with him. Meanwhile: God bless Nigerians

Odin13:


Till Buhari and Buni are back.. seunmg and his urchins are great time wasters and very lazy propagandists..that are out to misled the crowd

Kwanza:
First casualties of the "new" Electoral Act.

jlinkd78:
Implosion loading

HitRun:


After calling Buni and the governors in his side of the divide 'yahoo yahoo' governors, can we now safely conclude that APC is presently being run by fraudsters?

APC is stuck with yahoo yahoo leadership...hahahahahahahahahahaha!

This drama sweet die!

Based on this INEC letter, Buni and the Secretary na im hold the future of APC for their palm; they can do and undo. APC should start begging them o.