Buni to Bello: I’ll resume as APC chair after my medical trip

A letter indicating the transfer of responsibilities by Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni to his Niger State counterpart, Abubakar Sani Bello, as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), has been obtained by The Star.

This is contrary to the widely-circulated reports that Buni was removed by President Muhammadu Buhari from superintending the affairs of the party.

Reports had in the early hours of Monday emerged that President Buhari sanctioned the removal of Governor Buni as the chairman of the APC caretaker committee.

The National Secretary of the CECPC, Sen. Akpanudoedehe, however, denied any leadership change in the party’s caretaker committee.

In a statement on Monday, Akpanudoedehe described the media report about leadership change in the APC as fake news, urging members of the party and the general public to disregard the report.

Hours later, the governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, held an emergency meeting with some members of the APC CECPC.

Bello, who arrived the APC national secretariat in Abuja at about 12p.m., went straight to the National Working Committee (NWC) Hall.

When the governor came, he also parked his official vehicle at the designated parking lot of the “National Chairman”.

He was soon followed by the National Secretary of the CECPC, Akpanudoedehe, alongside 11 other members of the APC caretaker committee.

Speaking after the meeting with APC leaders on Monday, Governor Bello said he has only been acting as the acting chairman of the caretaker committee since Buni travelled abroad for medical check-up.

However, a letter written by Buni to transfer his duties as the National Chairman of APC CECPC to Governor Bello and notify the leadership of the ruling party about the development, has been obtained by this online medium.

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Buni noted that he would resume as the APC CECPC Chairman after he has been discharged from the hospital in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The letter dated February 28, 2022, was addressed to Governor Bello of Niger State.

Others copied in the letter titled, ‘Transmission of office of the National Chairman, CECPC’, include all members of the CECPC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The letter read: “This is to inform you that I will be embarking on a medical trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from today, 28th February, 2022. I will resume office upon my discharge from the hospital.

“In my absence, I hereby transmit the functions of my office as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) to you. This is to enable the Committee conclude all arrangements leading to the National Convention slated for March 26th, 2022, and other duties that may be required of the office.

“I invite all members to cooperate with Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, by extending to him all the support that I have enjoyed from you,

“Please do accept, the assurances of my best regards.”

It would be recalled that Buni took over the leadership of the party in June 2020 following the sack of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee.

The Star