Niger State governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, on Monday dismissed reports that he has replaced Governor Mai Mala Buni as National Chairman of the Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Bello’s clarifications followed media reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had reportedly ordered the removal of interim chairman Mai Mala Buni and replaced him with Niger State Governor Sani Bello.
Addressing newsmen after a meeting of the APC CECPC at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Monday, Bello said he was only presiding over the Committee in Acting capacity in the absence of the National caretaker chairman, Gov Buni.
Bello said he has been acting for a while in the absence of the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State since he travelled.
“I have been acting for a while since the Chairman travelled”, Governor Bello clarified, adding that he met with APC State Chairman as well as inaugurated some newly-elected State Chairmen.
“The States Chairmen took their oath of office today and we discussed progress made so far on Convention and what needs to be done next so that we will achieve the March 26 date for Convention”, he added.
All members of the Caretaker Committee were present at the meeting including its Secretary, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, Women representative, Mrs Stella Okotete, Youth Leader, Mr Ismail Ahmed and Mr David Lyon.
Also in attendance were Prof. Tahir Mamman, Sen. Ali Abba, Sen. Ken Nnamani and Sen. Yusuf Yusuf.
Bello said he received a report on the party’s zoning arrangement from the Chairman of the Committee and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman, who led other members of the committee, including DSP Ovie Omo Agege, to the secretariat.
“Acting Chairman of APC CECPC, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, receives the Report of the Party’s Zoning Committee from the Chairman of the Committee and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman, who led other members of the committee including DSP Ovie Omo Agege, Governors of Lagos, Gombe, Imo, Kogi, Ogun, and Borno as well as Deputy Governor of Anambra State for the submission of the report of the committee”, a post on the Bello’s Facebook page read.
