The Week In Review: Crisis Rocks APC, Senate Rejects Buhari’s Request, Chelsea In Trouble…

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) plunged into a massive crisis that threatened the foundation of the party; The Nigerian Senate rejected President Muhammadu Buhari’s request to amend the newly signed Electoral Act; The UK Govt sanctioned Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich over ties to Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

We are reviewing these and many more this past week…

APC: Buni Sacked, Niger Governor Bello Takes Over

Mai Mala Buni and Abubakar Sani Bello

The Governor of Yobe State and Chairman caretaker committee of the All Progressives Congress, Mai Mala Buni was reportedly removed from his position in the ruling party last Monday.

Naija News gathered that the Governor of Niger State took over as the chairman caretaker committee of the party.

This is coming after a Southern Governor elected on the platform of the party confirmed the removal of Buni as the Chairman caretaker committee of the party.

The Governor whose name was not stated disclosed that Buni was removed following a directive by President Muhammadu Buhari who is the party leader.

Buni Not Coming Back As APC Chairman – El-Rufai Declares

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has declared that the fate of Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State has been sealed and can’t return as the Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Naija News reports El-Rufai made the submission on Wednesday evening while featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

He added that the same thing applies to the CECPC Secretary, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe.

Governor El-Rufai submitted that Buni can only return as the Yobe State Governor and not as the APC Caretaker chairman.

He added that Bello has the backing of President Buhari and 19 governors.

Buni Remains APC Caretaker Chairman – Umahi Insists

Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi on Wednesday insisted that the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni remains the caretaker chairman of the All Progressives Congress.

Umahi while speaking with some party member over his sack by an Abuja court on Tuesday, said the Governor of Niger State, Sani Bello is only acting till Buni returns from his medical trip.

The Ebonyi State Governor disclosed this at Udusi Roundabout in Abakaliki, the state capital, on Wednesday.

APC Crisis Deepens As INEC Rejects Governor Sani-Bello’s Leadership

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied knowledge of the leadership change in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

It was gathered that INEC made this known on Thursday in a letter sent to Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello of Niger, who is the acting chairman of the party’s caretaker committee.

The officials pleaded not to be named disclosed that Sani-Bello had on Wednesday written to INEC in his capacity as the acting national chairman of the APC’s Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) inviting the commission to their National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for next week Thursday via zoom.

Court Sacks Governor Umahi, Deputy For Joining APC, Orders PDP To Produce Replacement Immediately

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, sacked Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State and his Deputy, Dr Eric Kelechi Igwe, for dumping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

Delivering judgement on Tuesday, Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered Umahi and his Deputy to immediately vacate their officer, asking INEC to replace them with a candidate from PDP.

He held that the total number of 393, 042 votes Umahi secured during the March 9, 2019 governorship election in Ebonyi state, belonged to the PDP and cannot be transferred to the APC.

Ekwo said that following the outcome of the governorship election, the office of the governor and deputy governor in Ebonyi state, “belong to the Plaintiff and no other political party”.

Senate Rejects Buhari’s Request To Delete Clause In Electoral Act

Nigerian Senate

The 9th Senate led by Senator Ahmad Lawan on Wednesday rejected the request of President Muhammadu Buhari calling for a clause in the newly-signed electoral act to be deleted.

The lawmakers rejected the request of the president through a voice vote when it was tabled to be read a second time.

Recall that President Buhari after signing the electoral act amendment bill into law had complained about clause 84 (12) which disenfranchises political appointees.

Buhari thereafter forwarded a formal request to the national assembly for it to delete the clause.

Osun: Court Affirms Adeleke’s Rival, Dotun Babayemi As Authentic PDP Candidate

Ademola Adeleke

Dotun Babayemi has been declared as the authentic governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party by a High Court sitting in Osun State.

Naija News had earlier reported that Ademola Adeleke won the primary which was endorsed by the National leadership of the party, while Babayemi emerged as the winner of the parallel election held at WOCDIF Centre, Ring Road, Osogbo.

Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe in his ruling on Friday stated that the 215 Wards Executive Officers that participated in the parallel gubernatorial primary held at WOCDIF Centre were authentic and authorized Ward Executive Officers permitted to vote as delegates.

The judge also restricted PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognizing any other governorship primaries of the PDP in Osun State.

UK Govt Sanctions Roman Abramovich, Stops Chelsea Sale

Roman Abramovich.

The UK Government has sanctioned Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich in the latest crackdown on Russian assets in the country.

Naija News reports that the billionaire is one of seven wealthy Russian individuals who had sanctions placed on them by the government on Thursday.

Also affected by the sanctions are billionaires and allies of President Vladimir Putin of Russia, Igor Sechin and Oleg Deripaska, Andrey Kostin and Alexei Miller.

Others affected by the sanctions are Nikolai Tokarev and Dmitri Lebedev, whose business empires, wealth and connections are closely associated with the Russian president.

That will be all for this week! Next week is another time