The National Chairman of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni have debunked speculations that he was scheming to contest for the chairmanship position of the party at the National Convention slated for February 26.
The ruling party, through the Secretary of the Buni-led committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, has also described the speculations that the Yobe State governor was plotting to remain in office as the national chairman of the APC as untrue.
Buni’s clarification came as the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, has commended the Buni-led CECPC for embracing direct primary for Ekiti State governorship election, saying this would help in dousing the tension and return calmness after the internal poll
There were strong speculations that Buni was scheming to contest the chairmanship position of the party, following an alleged plot to throw the position open to all geopolitical zones in the North.
But Buni’s Director-General, Press and Media Affairs, Mr Mamman Muhammed, said in a statement yesterday that the governor had not discussed with anyone that he would contest any position.
He stated: “Governor Buni is not scheming for any position. As you know, he is a serving governor, the Executive Governor of Yobe State and comfortably piloting the affairs of the state.
“He is just the chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the party. As you said, there are so many rumours.
“But l want to assure you that Governor Buni has not discussed with anyone that he is contesting any position.
“He has neither confided in nor asked someone to work for him for the aspiration of any office. That he is scheming or lobbying or aspiring for the party’s office is false, unfounded and baseless.”
Also, the Secretary of the committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe described the report as untrue.
He said the media is trying to create content that has been misleading Nigeria and keep saying things that are not true.
Akpanudoedehe said: “You wanted a convention; we have set a date for our convention; you are coming with another story. That I simply say that it is not true.”