The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied knowledge of the governing All Progressives Congress’s (APC) leadership transition (APC).
INEC reportedly informed Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello of Niger, who is the interim head of the party’s caretaker committee, of this on Thursday in a letter.
Sani-Bello had written to INEC on Wednesday in his capacity as acting national chairman of the APC’s Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), inviting the commission to their National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for next week Thursday via zoom, according to the officials who asked not to be identified.
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The APC had sent a letter to the election commission disclosing a change of guard from Governor Mai Mala Buni to Sani Bello, according to sources.
“Yes, the APC sent a letter, to which the commission responded because of legal reasons…
“They did not do the correct thing,” remarked one of the election officials.
In response, INEC advised the ruling party that only the national chairman and national secretary of the party could draft such a letter, according to another source.
This indicates that the commission had not yet been formally notified of the APC’s leadership transition.
As a result, the new administration, led by Governor Bello, is unable to write INEC for official affairs.
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According to Article 82 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022, every registered political party must give the commission at least 21 days’ notice of any convention, congress, conference, or meeting convened for the purpose of “merging” and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies, or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified under this Act.
Recall that the Governor of Niger State took over the APC leadership on Monday, claiming President Muhammadu Buhari’s support.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State confirmed the change of leadership, saying Buni, who is on a medical trip in Dubai, has been dismissed and would not return as chairman.
Also, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State had accused Buni and some ‘yahoo yahoo‘ governors of trying to destroy the APC.
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Backing Buni, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State had said the Yobe governor will return as the party chairman after his medical trip.
Speaking to his supporters, the embattled governor insisted that there was no crisis in the ruling party.
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