The All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) on Friday in Abuja said its chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni was only on medical leave and would resume soon.

National Youth Leader in the APC CECPC, Mr. Ismail Ahmed, wondered why it was difficult for some individuals to believe that.

Ahmed, while speaking with newsmen, explained that since the inauguration of the CECPC in June 25, 2020, Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger had always acted whenever Buni was absent.

This is contrary to the position of Governor Nasir El-Rufai that President Muhammadu Buhari gave directive for the removal of Buni and that 19 governors were in support of Bello.

But Ahmed differed.

“It has always been the case, that has never changed, and now we have a convention on March 26, the chairman wrote a letter to go for medical treatment and transmitted power to Bello.

“These are two emergencies; he has a medical emergency that cannot wait for convention. We have a convention that cannot wait for him to be healthy, so one has to leave for other.

“Gov. Bello has been acting appropriately and there is no problem about that,” Ahmed said, wondering why people are making an issue out of the development.

He added that Bello was acting with the full authority of the APC CECPC and the party’s stakeholders, leaders and with the full consent and knowledge of Buni.

“For now, we are doing it with the full authority and backing of the law, so there is no ambiguity in this, absolutely none.

“Power by the chairmanship was transmitted to Gov. Bello and he is fully driving it right now, and we are moving towards convention with the speed that is needed,” Ahmed said.

El-Rufai: How Buni plotted against APC convention

He added that if anyone had issues on decisions taken by the party on its leadership, he could go to the court.

He, however, appealed to the media to be responsive in their reportage and to always verify information before publishing.

Ahmed stressed that reports on the social media should be taken with a pinch of salt as they could be planted to score a political point, saying that the party’s leadership is open to the media always for clarifications of issues.

The Star