Crisis In APC As Governors’ Forum Asks Mala Buni To Resign As Caretaker Chairman
Dr Salihu Lukman, the Director-General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), has requested that the Governor Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress quit immediately.
In what appears to be internal schisms within the ruling party, Lukman claims that the Buni-led CECPC is disrespecting President Muhammadu Buhari’s and Governor Atiku Bagudu’s decision to conduct the APC National Convention next month.
The PGF’s position comes in the wake of the Buni-led CECPC’s guarantee that the party’s national convention would be held after extensive consultation with stakeholders around the country.
The CECPC’s recent stance, according to Lukman, is a smack in the face of Nigerians and an insult to party members.
The more the party allows the CECPC leadership to keep everyone hostage and refuses to begin the process of organizing the February APC National Convention, the more party officials will help the CECPC in weakening the APC’s election process, Lukman said.
He said, “How can a statement from ‘a focus-driven, process-oriented political party’, make such a scandalous statement allegedly assuring that a convention will hold in February without indicating date and venue for the Convention?
“If subcommittees, whether for budget or anything are to be set up, to perhaps mobilise funds for the Convention, why are they not set up with just about two weeks to the end of January?
“Somehow, it is difficult not to conclude that the CECPC is intentionally promoting speculations around the APC National Convention by claiming to embark on ‘consultations with party stakeholders to prepare the ground for a rancour-free National Convention.’
“With such an agreement, the responsibility of the CECPC is to go ahead and start organising the Convention. Almost two months after, the CECPC has not issued any notice of the Convention to anyone. Not even the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which by the provision of the Electoral Act as amended is required to be given at least 21 days’ notice.
“It is very difficult not to conclude that both the Chairman and all members of the CECPC have no respect for President Buhari, which is responsible for why they are doing everything possible to sabotage decisions validly taken to hold the APC National Convention in February after consultation with the President.”
