Mai Mala Buni, governor of Yobe state and now-ousted
chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) caretaker committee, took steps
to scuttle the party’s national convention scheduled for March 26.
Amid the crisis in the ruling party over the national
convention, Buni had held on tightly to the position of APC chairman.
TheCable reports that his desire to stay in office nearly
jeopardised plans for the national convention.
The Yobe governor has been feet-dragging on preparations and
issues bordering on the convention.
Unknown to members of the party, Buni and John
Akpanudoedehe, national secretary of the APC caretaker committee, had hatched a
plot to hold on to the control of the party.
TheCable also reports that they used a third party to obtain
a court order temporarily restraining the ruling party from holding its
convention until a substantive suit has been heard and determined.
The suit, filed by one Salisu Umoru at the high court in the
federal capital territory (FCT), had the APC and Buni as respondents.
“That the 1st
Defendant/Respondent can only conduct its national convention after the hearing
and determination of the substantive suit pending before this honourable
court,” the court order read.
“That in the interest of justice accelerated hearing of the
substantive suit is hereby ordered.
“That this matter is hereby adjourned to the 10th day of
January 2022 for hearing of the substantive suit at High Court No. 15, Kubwa,
FCT-Abuja.”
BUHARI ASKS NIGER
GOVERNOR TO REPLACE BUNI
After learning of Buni’s ploy and the court order, President
Muhammadu Buhari directed Abubakar Sani Bello, governor of Niger, to replace
the Yobe governor who is currently on a medical trip in Dubai.
A highly-placed source disclosed that the president got to
know about the court order a week ago.
“The president asked the Niger governor to replace Buni when
he became aware of the document,” the source said.
“Buni and Akpanudoedehe who is the national secretary will
have to vacate their offices immediately.”
Speaking with reporters at the APC national secretariat in
Abuja on Monday, Bello said he has been acting as the party’s chairman “for a
while.”
BUNI OUT IN THE COLD?
Buhari’s decision on Buni has set off a chain reaction
resulting in the isolation of the Yobe state governor by his
formerly-sympathetic colleagues.
Muhammad Badaru, Jigawa governor; Nasir el-Rufai, Kaduna
governor; Atiku Bagudu, Kebbi governor; and Yahaya Bello, Kogi governor, are
believed to have turned their backs on Buni, another source said.
“Buni does not have anybody to speak for him now. The APC
governors who supported him have taken sides with Mr President,” the source
added.
Culled: TheCable
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