Governor Nasiru Elrufai of Kaduna state has said that Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State can never return as Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
It was reported how Governor Sani Bello of Niger State stepped into the office of the caretaker chairman on Monday in what many have described as a fresh crisis in the APC.
APC Crisis: I’m still in charge, Buni insists, dismisses ‘fake news’ on alleged sack
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, El-Rufa’i said Buni, who is currently out of the country, can only return as Governor of Yobe state, but not as Chairman of the ruling party.
He said Bello has the backing of President Muhammadu Buhari and 19 governors.
Gov Buni remains APC caretaker chairman, Senate caucus insists
The solution to the leadership crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) appears not to be in sight yet as the Senate caucus of the party on Wednesday declared that Governor Mai Mala Buni remains the substantive Chairman of the Caretaker/Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee, CECPC of the party.
Speaking with journalists after a second day running an emergency meeting of the caucus, the Senate Leader, Dr Yahaya Abdullahi, said that the storm in the party is now over.
Abdullahi disclosed that various issues facing the party were exhaustively deliberated upon with a clear indication of peace ahead of the party’s March 26, 2022, national convention.
“These are trying times for major political parties in the country, the very reason we in the APC as Senate caucus met for the second day running this week towards required collaboration with other stakeholders for the unity of purpose in the party ahead of the coming national convention and 2023 general elections.
“The caucus has mapped out required strategies to bring all interests groups together in making the party more robust and well-positioned for the 2023 general elections.
“The media’s reported storm in the party is not true as there was no leadership crisis.
“Governor Buni, to us, remains the Chairman of National Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party.
“He will resume in that capacity any moment he returns from Dubai, where he went for a medical check.
“Governor Sani Bello, who is acting in that capacity now, is doing so to avoid a vacuum in leadership and most importantly, to put in place required arrangements for the forthcoming National Convention of the party 17 days from now,” she said.
The meeting lasted for about three hours and was attended by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, his deputy, Ovie Omo-Agege, the Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, and other principal officers adopted a seven-point communique geared towards dousing any form of tension in the party.
The caucus specifically resolved to meet with the CECPC of the party, Leaders of Governors Fora and aspirants/ candidates from this coming weekend.
