The crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, seem to further deepen as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has rejected the party’s Abubakar Sani-Bello-led Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) notice of its scheduled national executive council, NEC.
Bello, who took over the leadership of the party from Mai Mala Buni on March 7th based on reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had sacked him, had fixed the emergency NEC meeting to hold on March 17.
However, INEC in a letter to the chairman of CECPC dated 9th March, 2022 and signed by Secretary to the Commission, Rose Anthony referred to APC’s letter dated 8th March, 2022 titled “Invitation to the emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee.”
According to INEC, contrary to the provision of the Article 1.1.3 of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for political party operations (2018), the notice for the NEC meeting was not signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the CECPC.
“Furthermore, the APC is reminded of the provision in Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 which requires “at least 21 days” notice of any convention, congress , conference, or meeting convened for the purpose of “merger” and electing members of its executive committee , other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any elective offices,” the letter reads in parts.
