Againstall expectations, especially following the tension that trailed his orchestrated sack as chairman of the All Progressives Congress Caretaker Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (APC-CECPC), Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State has bounced back as President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly endorsed him to lead the party to its national convention on March 26.

It was also learnt that many of the governors who had hitherto lined up behind Niger State Governor, Sani Bello, as replacement for Buni, have made a volte-face with their tails between the legs.

Bello snatched power at the APC national headquarters, when he announced himself as the new head of the CECPC, which was set up in 2020 in the wake of the sacking of the Adams Oshiomhole-led executive.

The action of Governor Bello and his backers had caused unease within the rank of the governors and top stakeholders as many accused the Yobe governor of plotting against the organisation of the convention and declared support for Bello.

However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) scuttled the joy of the anti-Buni camp when it rejected a letter inviting it to an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee of the governing party where Bello’s chairmanship was to be approved.

Sources said the development is not unconnected with the “body language of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

“From Buhari’s statement on Saturday, it was clear that he was not backing any candidate for the party’s chairmanship and would not prevent any interested person from running for the office of the President in 2023,” said a source.

Bello snatched power at the APC national headquarters, when he announced himself as the new head of the CECPC, which was set up in 2020 in the wake of the sacking of the Adams Oshiomhole-led executive.

The action of Governor Bello and his backers had caused unease within the rank of the governors and top stakeholders as many accused the Yobe governor of plotting against the organisation of the convention and declared support for Bello.

However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) scuttled the joy of the anti-Buni camp when it rejected a letter inviting it to an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee of the governing party where Bello’s chairmanship was to be approved.

Sources said the development is not unconnected with the “body language of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

“From Buhari’s statement on Saturday, it was clear that he was not backing any candidate for the party’s chairmanship and would not prevent any interested person from running for the office of the President in 2023,” said a source. (Daily Sun)