Abubakar Sanni-Bello, governor of Niger State, on Monday, arrived at the the National Headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to take over as the Chairman of the party’s Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).
The Niger governor presided over a meeting of the committee on Monday, signaling the end of the leadership of Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, as its chairman.
The APC through its CECPC Secretary, Senator James Akpan Udohedehe, had earlier in a statement dismissed the reported removal of Governor Buni by President Muhammadu Buhar as fake news.
The statement had said, “Our attention has been drawn to sponsored media reports on an imaginary leadership change in the All Progressives Congress APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC.
“The media report is fake news and should be disregarded.
“The APC is a progressive political party guided by rules. Leadership changes are not announced by ‘sources’ through name dropping in the media.
“We urge our teeming supporters, members and indeed the general public to remain calm and support the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led APC CECPC conduct a rancour-free and credible National Convention deserving of our great party”
Meanwhile, police and other security operatives on Monday, took over the Buhari House, the national secretariat of the party as tension mounted over the rumoured sack of Buni.
As early as 8am on Monday, policemen had taken strategic positions in and around the secretariat, restricting human and vehicular movements, in what they said was part of efforts to maintain law and order.