BREAKING: APC cancels NEC meeting after Buhari’s letter to Atiku 

The National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for Thursday has been cancelled by the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led All Progressives Congress (APC). Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, Secretary of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, made the announcement on Wednesday night in a statement.

The statement reads in part; “As directed by the National Chairman of the APC, Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning (CECPC) and Governor of Yobe State, H.E. Mai Mala Buni, a purported emergency meeting of the  Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) slated for Thursday, March 17, 2022 is hereby cancelled.”

The news comes just hours after President Muhammadu Buhari expressed his support for Buni and directed APC governors to work together to ensure a successful convention.

 In a letter addressed to Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, who is also the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Buhari said the plethora of cases currently engulfing the party could lead to the Independent National Electoral (INEC) Commission invalidating the party’s activities and actions .

The President said in the letter, which was also copied to the Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Committee (CECC), the Acting Chairman of the CECC, Governor Sani Bello, the Director General of the DSS, and the Inspector General of Police, that because the party could not change the leadership of the CECC without violating the time limit set by INEC, and because the current uncertainties and controversies “pose a real threat to the party,” he has decided to dissolve the CECC.

“The leadership of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Committee (CECC) should be reinstated as soon as possible; “All members of the Governors Forum and their supporters should refrain from any actions or statements that are likely to cause division within the party and jeopardise the transition to the convention;”

“As a result, the Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Committee should be allowed to proceed with all necessary preparations in order to hold the convention on March 26th, 2022, as planned.”