President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the reinstatement of Governor Mai Mala Buni as chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The President on Wednesday hinged his decision on the fact that the APC could not change the leadership of the CECPC without infringing on the time limit set by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In addition, Buhari said his action was based on the fact that the current uncertainties and controversies “pose a real threat to the party.”

Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger had last week took over the leadership of the party on account that Buni had been removed by the President with the backing of 19 of the 22 governors.

In a letter personally signed by him and addressed to Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, who is also the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, on March 16, President Buhari said the multiplicity of cases currently rocking the party has the prospect of invalidating the activities and actions of the party by INEC.

In the letter the President gave three directives: “The issue of the leadership of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECC) should immediately return to status quo ante;

“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;

“The Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Committee should accordingly be allowed to proceed with all necessary preparations to hold the convention as planned – unfailingly on 26th March, 2022.”

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The letter was copied to the Chairman of CECPC, the Acting Chairman of the CECPC, Governor Sani Bello; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF); the Director General of the DSS as well as the Inspector-General of Police.

A picture released by the Presidency on Wednesday showed that the President met with Buni and Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu in London.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna had accused Buni of sabotaging the planned March 26 National Convention through obtaining court injunction stopping the exercise.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu had harsh words for Buni, describing governors

Backing his leadership as ‘Yahoo Yahoo APC governors’.

The Star