Akpanudoedehe remains APC secretary as Buni continues reconciliation

The Chairman, Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, and the National Secretary, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, have continued preparations for Saturday’s national convention of the party.

The two leaders were at the National Secretariat of the APC yesterday to dispel the rumour of the removal of the national secretary.

In an interview with the media yesterday, Akpanudoedehe also confirmed that he remained the national secretary in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that status quo ante is maintained.

Akpanudoedehe said, “Our chairman (Buni) cannot go against the instruction of the president. In his last letter, the president has given the directive that the status quo ante should remain. The chairman is a very brilliant man, he respects the president and will not go against that.

“I am the National Secretary of APC and the Constitution is very clear on that. The INEC has said for you to sack any of us, you need 21 days’ notice.

“I should be celebrated for standing with the chairman. We should celebrate loyalty, integrity. Why would I be punished for standing with the chairman? It is a virtue. So, nothing has changed in APC. I remain the National Secretary and reconciliation efforts are ongoing. It is one party.”

Meanwhile, the Buni-led APC caretaker committee has continued reconciliatory efforts by meeting with aggrieved chieftains of the party ahead of the convention.

The efforts, it was gathered, were to ensure that the forthcoming convention is seamless and that party stakeholders and members were united for a successful outing at the convention and at the general elections.