On Monday the 7th of March, Nigerians woke up to multiple news reports of the ouster of Mai Mala Buni, the Governor of Yobe State, as the Caretaker Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the alleged orders of President Muhammadu Buhari.
As the news peaked on social media and across the country, the National Secretary of the APC John Akpanudoedehe issued a statement denying any such sack of Buni as Caretaker Chairman of the Party.
The statement which was published by several news platforms read:
“Our attention has been drawn to sponsored media reports on an imaginary leadership change in the All Progressives Congress Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee.
“The media report is fake news and should be disregarded.”
“The APC is a progressive political party guided by rules. Leadership changes are not announced by ‘sources’ through name dropping in the media. We urge our teeming supporters, members and indeed the general public to remain calm and support the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led APC CECPC conduct a rancour-free and credible National Convention deserving of our great party.”
Within minutes after the statement was circulated, reports had it that the National Secretariat of the Party was beseiged by security officers, following which Governor of Niger State Sani Bello arrived and physically took over at the Secretariat as the Chairman Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee.
On his arrival at the Party’s Secretariat, Governor Bello convened a meeting of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee and State chairmen of the Party.
Reliable sources reveal that that the National Executive Committee of the Party is scheduled to meet soon to ratify Buni’s ouster.
The Intrigues
Following the successful outster of Governor Buni as Caretaker Chairman, many Nigerians expressed surprise that the National Secretary of the Party had no wind of the plot. His statement denying the development may confirm that he was completely kept in the dark, following the late night resolution of President Buhari to drop Buni as APC’s Caretaker Chairman.
According to sources familiar with the issue, 6 Governors had prevailed on President Buhari to drop Buni due to his allege reluctance to organise the Party’s Congress. This followed reports by unofficial sources that the congress was to be moved for the second time to the month of June against the wishes of majority of the Party’s stakeholders.
“As at today, nothing has been done or is being done to ensure we have a national congress by the end of this month as Buni made us believe. We cannot allow our Party to be destabilised,” a source disclosed.
The Jonathan Connection
Buni’s alleged reluctance to organise the National Congress of the Party as promised, is believed to be linked to his rumoured Vice Presidential bid as running mate to former President Jonathan. In some quarters it is believed that the Buni camp within the APC has been behind plots to enlist the former President as Presidential candidate of the APC.
While Jonathan has largely kept mum on the raging speculations of his alleged bid to run for the Presidency under the APC, factions within the Party have at various times either hinted on or denied the possibility.
The Fayemi, El Rufai and Bello combo
Although it is still in the realm of speculation, insider sources have disclosed to Wazobia Politics that today’s emergence of Governor Sani Bello as APC’s caretaker Chairman may in fact be a palace coup to ensure Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, the former Governor of Nasarawa State and endorsed choice of National Chairman by President Buhari, is dropped for Niger State’s Sen. Sani Musa.
Sources familiar with the issue disclose that the candidature of Sani Musa as National Chairman is being pushed by the duo of Fayemi and El Rufai, who, it is believed, plan to run on a joint Presidential ticket as the Party’s standard bearers.
It remains to be seen how this would pan out. Although the clear indication of its credibility would be the opposition of the candidature of Buhari’s preferred choice Abdullahi Adamu as National Chairman of the Party.
Should Governor Sani Bello seek to oppose the emergence of Abdullahi Adamu as Party Chairman in favour of Sani Musa, the unanticipated palace coup would have effectively crystallised.
The events of the next hours and days will give clarity to the currently hazy issues around APC’s leadership tussle and Presidential candidate.
For now, Gov. Sani Bello is believed to have the nod of President Buhari to organise the National Congress as earlier announced by the Party.
Gov. Mai Mala Buni is said to be currently on medical vacation in Dubai, just as President Buhari embarks on his medical trip to the United Kingdom, after momentarily returning to hand over power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Meanwhile, the ouster of Buni is being viewed in some quarters as illegal, given that it is said to differ from party guidelines on producer. How this pans out in the long run for the Party remains to be seen.
