Two-third APC Caretaker Committee declares no confidence on Secretary

Two-third of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, CECPC of the Nigerian governing party, the All Progressives Congress, APC has passed a vote of no confidence on the Caretaker Committee’s Secretary, Senator John Akpanudoedehe.

The is contained in a notice titled “Motion of No Confidence on the Secretary of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee” which was released to the media by the APC Caretaker Committee Spokesperson, Mr. Ismaeel Ahmed.

The notice which has a date of March 8, 2022 was signed by 10 out of 12 members of the committee; Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, Senator Ken Nnamani, Senator Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf, Prof Tahir Mammah, Senator Abba Alli, H.E David Lyon, Honourable Akinremi Olàide, Mrs Stella Okotete, Barrister Ismaeel Ahmad and Dr James Lalu.

The committee is citing the sack of Senator Akpanudoedehe based on the APC Constitution, Article 17, subsection 5 and 6 which states “Subject to ratification by the National Convention or Congress, an officer shall be relieved of his post at any time if a vote of ‘no confidence’ is passed on him by two-thirds of members of the relevant party organ.

“Pursuant to this Constitution, where a vote of ‘No Confidence’ has been passed on an Officer, the relevant Party organ shall appoint another person to act in his place pending ratification by the National Convention or Congress”.

It would be recalled that Senator Akpanudoedehe has been absent in most of the meetings of the Caretaker Committee for over a week now and this may be as a result of this document.

Also, Mr. Ahmed insisted that the list of the National Convention sub-committees which was signed by the Director of Organisation following the directive of the caretaker committee remains the final and authentic list.

He said this in response to a Sub-committees list trending in the media which was signed by Senator Akpanudoedehe.

According to Mr. Ahmed, the CECPC never approved the list and in fact has no record of such list.

“Party members and the media should ignore the falsehood being spread by sacked Senator Akpanudoedehe.

“The approved final list was the outcome of extensive consultations with all the stakeholders and follow up at ensuring a decent list that is representative and inclusive is put together and the same has since been issued. The laughable action of sacked Senator Akpanudoedehe is therefore considered an affront on the committee which was duly constituted in line with provisions of the party’s constitution and NEC of the party” Ahmed said.

The insistence on the removal of Senator John Akpanudoedehe from the position of Secretary is coming a day after President Muhammadu Buhari wrote a letter to the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu where the President said that a leadership change might be necessary for ensuring that the Caretaker Committee meets its set objectives.

Dominica Nwabufo