The future of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC as a political party is looking very bleak as the grassroot, local and state organs of the party has no legitimate life.
The recent letter by the independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has invalidated the Palace Coup against the Mai Mala Buni led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Mai CECPC.
The governor of Niger State, Sani Bello on Monday, 7th March in a shocking development, assumed leadership of the party saying that the President has had ousted his Yobe State counterpart who’s on medical trip abroad. Bello in what looked like a palace coup assumed the National chairmanship position and quickly went to work inaugurating Chairmen of the various state chapters and the convention sub committees chairmen.
The reign of Bello was however short-lived and the final nail on the coffin placed by INEC when the former (Sani Belo) invited the electoral body to witness their emergency National Executive Council meeting which is slated for Tuesday, 15th March.
INEC in its response signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran Anthony, dated March 9, 2022, drew the attention of the CECPC to the fact that the letter of invitation was not signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the CECPC, Buni and Senator John Akpanudoedehe, respectively. This means that the existence of any other Chairman is unknown to the electoral umpire.
In INEC’s exact words: “Please refer to your letter Ref.APC/NHDQ/INEC/019/022/32, dated 8th March 2022.
“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).
“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 office.
“While hoping these issues are noted for compliance, please accept the assurance of the Commission’s warm regards.”
INEC’s position dealt a fatal blow to the existence of any other leadership in the party and this also means that any action by the Sani Bello reign is considered illegal.
Also, the capacity under which the Niger State Governor should take over from Buni isnt clear as there’s currently, no Deputy Chairman in the CECPC. The Niger State Governor is representing the North Central in the committee and has no legal authority to takeover from Buni under any circumstance except the later steps down from his position and the NEC ratifies him as same.
Another pointer to the fact that Bello’s reign is unknown to law is that he wasn’t sworn in by anyone unlike Buni that was sworn in by the Attorney-General at the State House.
As things stand today, the party doesn’t have any constituted structures in the states, local governments and wards and if things aren’t resolved as soon as possible, the fate of Zamfara awaits the party at the national level.
