Politics

APC Crisis: Why Akpanudoedehe’s Sack May Fall Through

Published

4 years ago

March 19, 2022

On Thursday, March 17, 2020, Gov. Abubakar Sani Bello’s tendency in the All Progressives Congress APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee announced the sack of the CECPC National Secretary, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe.

Relying on Article 27 (v & vi) of the party constitution, the Bello-led CECPC passed a no-confidence vote on the party scribe.

The said section of the constitution states; “Subject to ratification by the National Convention or Congress an Officer shall be relieved of his post at any time if a vote of ‘No Confidence’ is passed on him by two-thirds of members of the relevant Party organ.

“Pursuant to this Constitution, where a vote of ‘No Confidence’ has been passed on an Officer, the relevant Party organ shall appoint another person to act in his place pending ratification by the National Convention or Congress”.

Spokesman of the Bello-led CECPC, Barr. Ismae’el Ahmed also told Vanguard that the notice for Akpanudoedehe’s sack was arrived at on March 8 by a majority of the members of the committee who passed a vote of no confidence on Senator Akpanudoedehe.

The said notice was signed by 10 of the 12 members of the committee including Senator Ken Nnamani, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, Senator Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf, Prof Tahir Mamman, Senator Abba Alli, Chief David Lyon, Hon Akinremi Olaide, Mrs Stella Okotete, Barr Ismaeel Ahmed and Dr James Lalu. The other two members who did not sign were Gov. Buni and Sen. Akpanudoedehe himself who were not at the meeting.

Thereafter, on Thursday to be precise, Gov. Buni issued a statement affirming all actions of Gov. Bello while he (Buni) was away. He did not say whether his affirmation included the sack of Senator Akpanudoedehe.

There are however salient issues that may invalidate the said sack of the party scribe, even as the decision could put the March 26 national convention in jeopardy.

The first point is that the CECPC may not have the powers to sack any of its members, as a committee cannot sack its member. Only an organ of the party can do that, subject to ratification by the national convention.

The CECPC is an ad hoc committee, not an organ of the party. It is also not a standing committee.

The organs of the party are listed in the APC Constitution. The CECPC is not a National Working Committee NWC and so, may not be able to sack any of its members.

Article 12 of the APC constitution which deals with the “Composition of Party Organs”, listed the organs as the National Convention, National Working Committee NWC, National Caucus, Zonal Congress, Zonal Executive Committee, State Congress, State Executive Committee, State Caucus, State Working Committee and Senatorial District Committee.

Other organs according to the party constitution are the Local Government Area/Area Council Congress, Local Government Area/Area Council Caucus and the Board of Trustees BoT which will now be replaced by the National Advisory Council if the March 26 Convention ratifies the party’s now amended constitution.

So, not being an organ of the party, the CECPC may not be able to draw powers from Article 27 (v & vi) of the APC Constitution.

The CECPC is a creation of the National Executive Committee NEC, even as the National Chairman and Secretary were named by NEC.

For any party to ratify such a change through its NEC, the party would have to again issue a 21-day notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.

Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) requires ‘at least 21 days’ notice for any convention, congress, conference, or meeting convened for the purpose of ‘merger’ and electing members of the executive committees, other governing bodies of political parties.

Currently, only Buni and Akpanudoedehe are known to INEC as Chairman and Secretary respectively.

Sack, contrary to Buhari’s directives

The sack of the party scribe so runs contrary to the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari for all parties to the dispute to maintain the “status quo ante”.

Buhari had in a letter dated March 16 and addressed to the Chairman, Progressive Governors’ Forum PGF and Kebbi state Governor, Abubakar Atiku, said the APC is faced with a multiplicity of court cases pending against it in various courts across the country.

In addition, it has come to my attention that, because of recent events, and that as a result, it faces the possibility and prospect of the invalidation of all its activities and actions by INEC.

The letter was copied by the acting CECPC Chairman, Gov. Sani Bello, Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha, Director General State Services, Yusuf Magaji Bichi and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba.

According to the president, “the party has demonstrated its inability to proceed with the issue of effecting change in the leadership of its Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Committee CECPC, in a way that is inclusive, legal and respectful of the time limit set and required for giving the INEC sufficient notice of the time and venue for holding its convention”.

He said apart from the development capable of leading to a possible nonrecognition of its activities, elections and the probable invalidation of all its other actions by INEC, it may ultimately even lead to its implosion and non-existence.

Asking the party to, as much as possible, avoid all controversies, litigation and all other necessary distractions and quickly get its acts together, the president directed this:

“First, the issue of the leadership of the Caretaker Extra Ordinary Convention Committee (CECPC), should immediately return to status quo ante;

“Second, all members of the Governors’ Forum and their followers should desist from any behaviour or utterance that will likely lead to disunity in the ranks of the party, and ultimately jeopardise the transition to the convention;

“Third, the Mai Mala Buni-led CECPC should, accordingly, be allowed to proceed with all necessary preparations to hold the convention as planned— unfailingly, on 26th March, 2022”.

Ultimately, the gladiators in the ruling party may have to sit down and draw up a political solution to this crisis of leadership in a manner that may not be detrimental to its scheduled national convention.

VANGUARD

Politics

BREAKING: Nigerian Senate Approves Tinubu’s N1.15tn Loan Request

Published

2 days ago

November 12, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Senate has approved the request of President Bola Tinubu to raise N1.15 trillion from the domestic debt market to cover the unfunded portion of the 2025 budget deficit.

This comes after the adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debt during plenary on Wednesday.

According to the committee, the 2025 Appropriation Act provides for a total expenditure of N59.99 trillion, representing an increase of N5.25 trillion over the N54.74 trillion initially proposed by the Executive.

The expansion created a total budget deficit of N14.10 trillion. Of this, N12.95 trillion had already been approved for borrowing, leaving an unfunded deficit of approximately N1.15 trillion (N1,147,462,863,321).

In a related development, a motion by Senator Abdul Ningi was adopted, directing the Senate Committee on Appropriations to intensify its oversight to ensure that the borrowed funds are properly implemented in the 2025 fiscal year and used strictly for their intended purposes.

Recall that President Tinubu had on November 4th requested the approval of the National Assembly for a fresh N1.15 trillion borrowing from the domestic debt market to help finance the deficit in the 2025 budget.

The President’s request was conveyed in a letter. According to the letter, the proposed borrowing is intended to bridge the funding gap and ensure full implementation of government programs and projects under the 2025 fiscal plan.

Politics

Agege LG Chairman Resigns

Published

1 week ago

November 5, 2025

Editor

Agege Local Government
Mr. Tunde Azeez Disco has stepped down as the Executive Chairman of Agege Local Government, citing persistent health challenges as the reason for his resignation.

The former chairman submitted his resignation letter to the Agege Local Government Legislative Arm.

He noted that his health status had significantly impacted his ability to effectively discharge his official duties.

The legislative house, while acknowledging Azeez Disco’s dedication to public service, quickly accepted the decision. Following a thorough deliberation, a unanimous resolution was passed, accepting the resignation with immediate effect.

The council wished the outgoing chairman well in his future endeavours, with the event underlining the necessity for public officials to prioritise personal health and well-being.

Ganiyu Obasa, son of the Speaker, Lagos State Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, is the Vice chairman of Agege Local Government.

In May, residents of Agege, under the banner of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the local government election in Agege.

They claimed that Obasa allegedly plans to foist his surrogates as candidates in the local government and councillorship elections.

In a meeting held in response to the announcement of candidates for the chairmanship and vice-chairmanship of the Agege Local Government and Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area (LCDA), the aggrieved residents alleged that those shortlisted as candidates to represent the area were handpicked by Obasa.

They said the process was void of internal democracy and collective participation.

Addressing the media, Kamardeen Sabitu, chairman of the PCC for Agege and Orile-Agege, alleged that Obasa did everything possible to manipulate the political structure in the area for personal gain.

During the protest, demonstrators carried placards reading “Red Card, Obasa O to ge, (it is enough). They also chanted songs such as “Enough is Enough, this suffering is enough, Tinubu, rescue us.”

Politics

JUST IN: Reps In Rowdy Session, Reject Key Motions

Published

1 week ago

November 4, 2025

Editor

The plenary session of the House of Representatives on Tuesday turned rowdy after members voted against some motions of urgent public importance, which bordered on the protection of lives and key government assets.

With the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, presiding, the session became rowdy, as members dissolved into a closed-door session to restore order.

It all started when the member representing Somolu Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Ademorin Kuye, drew the attention of his colleagues to what he called the illegal allocation of lands within the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex and prayed the House to refer the matter to the Committee on Public Assets for investigation.

Kuye, a member of the All Progressives Congress is the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Assets.

Proposing an amendment to the prayers, Delta lawmaker and Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, argued that though the matter brought before the Green Chamber is urgent enough, the Committee on Commerce, not Public Assets, should be in charge of the investigation.

Waive was supported by Akwa Ibom lawmaker, Mark Esset, who argued that “It is the Committee on Commerce that should take responsibility on this matter.”

On the other hand, Yusuf Gagdi representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency, Plateau State, supported Kuye, stating that the Public Assets Committee should be allowed to take charge of investigating the allegation of illegal land sale and submit a report to the House.

With no end to the back-and-forth argument in sight, Gbefwi Gaza (SDP, Nasarawa) on the advice of Kalu, proposed the constitution of an Ad-hoc Committee comprising members of both Committees (Public Assets and Commerce) to conduct the probe.

When subjected to a voice vote, almost an equal number of lawmakers voted in support and against the motion.

Not sure whose voices were louder, Kalu gave it to the nays, sparking unrest in the chamber.

Next on the order of urgent motions was Mohammed Bio representing Baruten/Kaima Federal Constituency, Kwara State.

Bio who lamented the worsening security situation in his constituency, prayed the House to urge the military to establish a base in the crisis-prone areas to stem the tides of attacks.

This time, more lawmakers voted against the motion, to the surprise of Kalu and the Kwara lawmaker.

It became clear to Kalu that members had resolved to frustrate the day’s session owing to the rejection of Kuye’s motion.

So, when again voices thundered against Ayodeji Alao-Akala’s motion which drew members’ attention to the need to address Nigeria’s description as a “Country of Particular Concern” by the United States President, Mr Donald Trump; Kalu allowed the motion to pass, forcing members to openly oppose the decision.

Voices of dissent rent the chambers and the plenary was suspended for a closed-door session.

…Details later