Exclusive: Real Reasons Mai Mala Buni Was Removed As APC Chairman

The alleged bribe for favour and how he was caught.

Facts have emerged about why the Governor of Yobe State, who doubled as the Chairman, of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mai Mala Bumi was removed from office on Monday.

Reliable sources within the ruling party revealed that Buni was fond of receiving money illegally from some senior members of the party, especially state governors towards the 2023 elections

According to inside reports, Buni’s palms were constantly greased by an APC Governor in the South West and another Governor from the South East.

Having been intimated of the allegations, President Muhammadu Buhari was said to have insisted on tangible evidences before he could wield the big stick.

“That was how machineries were allegedly set in motion to ensure that Buni is properly caught red handed.

“Eventually, an APC governor from the northern part of the country, who was fond of getting huge votes for the president in his state was contracted to carry out the job and he did this with precision and the deed was done as the conversation was recorded unknown to the Yobe State Governor,” said a source.

With the evidence, sources said, Buhari had no choice but to remove Buni from office as the party’s “Caretaker Committee Chairman with immediate effect.”
This issue of bribe for favour from some governors first came to fore about two weeks ago when a radical and powerful youth leader said to be close to the president, openly accused the yobe state governor while featuring on a political program and mentioned the name of a governor as a witness.
However, the camp of the embattled governor has debunked the allegations calling it a sheer blackmail.

Reports got to town on Monday that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the removal of Buni, as the Chairman, Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), of the party and replaced him with his Niger State counterpart, Abubakar Sani Bello.

It was alleged that a faction of the APC governors was alleged to have complained bitterly to the president that Buni was not inclined to hold the convention as rescheduled, because there were no preparations on the ground to indicate so.

Men of the police force, numbering about 80, reportedly went to the APC Secretariat in Abuja with 11 vehicles and have cordoned off the secretariat of the party at Blantyre Street, Wuse II, Abuja, to prevent any breakdown of law and order.

Bello is expected to preside over the Caretaker Committee meeting.

But, the National Secretary of the party, Sen. John Akpanudoedehe denied any leadership change at the Buhari House.

Akpanudoedehe, in a hurriedly signed statement issued on Monday, described the media report about leadership change as fake news and should be disregarded.

He 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 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.”