The ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) is in the midst of a crisis, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State’s nomination as Chairman of the party’s Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).
According to an inside source, after resuming his duties as Chairman of the APC’s CECPC, Governor Bello sent INEC a letter dated March 8, 2022, advising them of a change of guard at the party’s national secretariat.
Bello was introduced as the party’s acting Chairman in the letter, while Professor Tahir Mamman was announced as the party’s acting Secretary.
The letter was believed to have been signed by both Governor Bello and Professor Mamman.
The letter also served as notice to the commission of APC’s CECPC decision to host a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting next week on Thursday, March 17th, 2022, according to the source.
The Commission, however, was said to have responded quickly to the letter on Wednesday, March 9th, 2022, stating that it was unaware of any change of guard in APC and that it would not honor it because it was not signed by the known CECPC Chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni, and Secretary, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe.
Mrs Rose Omoa Oriaran-Anthony, the Secretary to the Commission, signed the letter.
“The Commission draws your attention to the fact that the notice for the meeting was not signed by the National Chairman (Buni) and National Secretary (Akpanudoedehe) 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).
“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 executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any elective offices’”, a copy of the letter obtained by this newspaper reads.
According to an INEC source, Governor Bello’s letter is peculiar because the Commission was never called to watch or oversee any meeting where the adjustments were made, hence the letter was not honored.
“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 Commission was not called to any meeting or Congress when Mai Buni was dismissed as Chairman, according to the source, and so could not deal with what was not lawfully established.
“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.
