APC crisis: Gov. Bello in trouble, as INEC, Senate say they’re not aware of leadership change

There are indications that Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State may land in trouble after he overthrew the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State last Monday. This is not unconnected with emerging statements from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the commission is not aware of leadership change in the ruling APC CECPC, including APC senators. This is more so as Governor Buni has exposed a letter to Governor Bello transmitting interim power to act as national chairman in his absence as he traveled to UAE on medical vacation. The letter of Governor Buni was copied the INEC and others.

The INEC was said to have made its position known in a response to a letter from Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, the acting national chairman of the APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), inviting INEC to the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) virtual meeting next Thursday.

INEC insisted that the commission is not aware of leadership change in the APC. The commission had also reminded the APC that only the APC national chairman and national secretary can write INEC a letter of invitation.

INEC also counseled the APC that Article 82 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022 prescribes: “Every registered political party shall give the commission 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 of the elective offices specified under this Act.” Apparently, the Bello CECPC may have failed in this regard, indicating that the national convention may not hold under the CECPC led by Bello because the committee is already out of the time range for notice.

Governor Bello has denied receiving any letter from Buni transmitting power to him as APC CECPC national chairman.