- Akpanudoedehe says party crisis free, strong, united
By Joshua Omoloye
All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised a team of legal experts to quash court injunction restraining the party from holding its national convention slated for March 26. M e a n w h i l e , the National Secretary, Caretaker/ E x t r a o r d i n a r y Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Senator John Akpanudoedehe, has allayed fears among party members about recent developments.
He said “APC is crisisfree, strong and united.” He said the caretaker committee is grateful to INEC for its firm guidance in the entire circumstances.
A k p a n u d o e d e h e who retumed to office in the aftermath of the confusion over leadership of the CECPC last week said delivering a seamlessly successful national convention for the APC on March 26, 2022 is top priority for the CECPC. In a press statement personally signed on Tuesday, he said the CECPC has always done its best to steer the affairs of the APC in line with the mandate invested in it at inauguration by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party.
Speaking on the legal encumbrance to the planned convention, the National Secretary said: “meanwhile, the party has engaged a team of senior lawyers to address a purported court order halting the planned APC National Convention. We hereby call on the judiciary to give the matter the needed and expedient attention in our bid to vacate the purported court order and allow for the conduct of a transparent and rancour-free National Convention deserving of our great party, APC, The Trumpet gathered.
“The Caretaker/ E x t r a o r d i n a r y Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the Chairmanship of His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, makes this press release to clarify the events of last week and reassure the membership and stakeholders of the Party, as well as the Nigerian people in general, that the Governing Party is crisis-free, strong and remains united in giving the country the transformative leadership and good governance which she promised them”.
He informed Nigerians, particularly party members that “on the 28th day of February, 2022 the CECPC Chairman took a long-delayed trip abroad on health grounds, leaving behind written authorisation for other members of the CECPC to continue work in his absence, particularly the day to day management of the APC.
“That in his absence, sundry activities earlier scheduled for action appeared to develop fresh urgency in order to satisfy the Timetable for the 2023 General Elections released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), thus galvanizing some within the CECPC to act in their best understanding of both the situation and the leadership dynamics in the Committee/Party.
“That all such actions were clearly identified at all times as happening in an acting or proxy capacity, and under the auspices of the substantive Chairman, His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni, contrary to widespread speculations that the Chairman, Secretary or some other officials of the CECPC have been removed from Office or otherwise replaced. “That the CECPC is intact and functional as originally constituted.
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“That delivering a seamlessly successful National Convention for the APC on March 26, 2022 is top on priority for the CECPC and we shall continue to execute such assignments as are legal pending the return of the Chairman who is on his way back to the country and shall resume Office on arrival with the full support of all members and other stakeholders.”
A k p a n u d o e d e h e restated absolute loyalty of the CECPC to the APC, thanked the national organs and leadership of the party led by President Muhammadu Buhari and reassured members and citizens that the party is stronger than ever before and poised to extend its winning streak since 2015 into 2023 and beyond.
