Politics

APC Crisis: Why Akpanudoedehe’s Sack May Fall Through

Published

3 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

US Desperate To Remove You, Cleric Warns Tinubu

Published

12 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu again regarding the vice president, Kashim Shettima, and his 2027 second-term ambition, while also stating that America is “desperate to remove” the president.

Primate Ayodele, in a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, warned Tinubu not to drop Shettima as his running mate, noting that even if the VP offends the president, he should settle it for his own good.

He explained that an attempt to bring another person on board would be a “huge minus” and would “destroy his chances and bring unnecessary enemies to him.”

“Dropping Shettima will cause trouble for you; those who want him out are your enemies who don’t want you to succeed. Anything that Shettima might have done, forget it, and let’s move the country forward,” the cleric advised.

Politics

I’m Not Ready To Go Into The Gutters With Anyone – Makinde

Published

2 days ago

August 21, 2025

Editor

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, said he is not ready to “go low with anyone who decides to go into the gutters.”

He made this statement while addressing journalists shortly after the South-West zoning consultative summit of the Peoples Democratic Party, held in Lagos.

He said, “Personally, when people go low or go into the gutters, I don’t go with them. Some people are now going into the gutters. We will reach out to them. That is democracy.

“I can disagree with people, but there shouldn’t be anything personal here. It should be about what we are giving to Nigerians because they are watching.”

The governor added that despite challenges, recent elections had shown that the PDP remained a formidable force.

“In all our states, they showed last Saturday that PDP is not dead. In most other places of the 12 states, PDP came second. It is an indication to us that if we continue to work hard, we can reclaim the confidence of Nigerians,” he said.

When asked about discussions on zoning of the PDP presidential ticket to the South, Makinde said the party was not yet at that stage.

“We haven’t even gotten there. We need to have a party first before you start talking about presidential candidates. If we don’t have a party, anything you are trying to do will fall flat.

“Our efforts right now are directed towards having a vibrant and united PDP that Nigerians will be proud of and believe in again,” he said.

Dignitaries at the meeting include the Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the party’s National Zoning Committee and Bayelsa state governor, Douye Diri; Governors Ademola Adeleke of Osun state, Peter Mba of Enugu State, represented by his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai; former Osun Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Bode George; and Monsurat Sunmonu.

Others were 12 of the 17 PDP National Assembly members and key stakeholders of the party from across the southern states.

Politics

2027 Presidency: Idahosa Reiterates Okpebholo’s Promises Of Delivering Edo To Tinubu

Published

4 days ago

August 19, 2025

Editor

Edo State deputy governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa on Tuesday reiterated the promise of Governor Monday Okpebholo of delivering the state to President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

The deputy said that the just concluded by-elections in the state was an affirmation of that promised made by his principal.

Idahosa stated this in a press statement sogned by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Friday Aghedo, and made available to newsmen.

He said Okpebholo did not just make the promise of delivery the state to the APC, but that Edo will secure 2.5m votes for the President in 2027.

He commended the leadership of the party across Ovia federal constituency for their providing the leadership that made a APC victorious on Saturday.

He, however, noted that there was more room for improvement ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, “after the victory, we called the leadership of the Ovia federal constituency to review and evaluate our performance at the poll, to observe areas where we need to work on next time.

“The bye-election was a litmus test for the 2027 presidential election. We are fully ready.”

Idahosa also used the opportunity to sensitize the people on the ongoing continuous voters registration and revalidation process by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He also reeled out measures in place by the party to get new registered members for the exercise when commenced on Monday.

“We are going to constitute subcommittees to mobilize people who have not yet registered to enable us actualize on the promised votes to the president,” he said.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives member elect, Omosede Igbinedion, promised to deliver on her campaign promises to the people.

“Ovia Federal Constituency should expect nothing but the best, in terms of representation and also in terms of developmental strides.

“We will come through, in anything we can do, from the federal level to complement the governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and the tremendous work he is doing at the state.

“Ovia is looking very bright. The deputy governor, Dennis Idahosa, has laid a good foundation we will build upon that foundation,” she said.