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The crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) worsened on Sunday as the Senator Kabiru m Marafa-led faction of the party in Zamfara State said it would seek the removal of Governor Mai Mala Buni as the party’s caretaker chairman.
Buni is Chairman of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee which was inaugurated in June 2020, following the dissolution of the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) over alleged abuse of office.
The committee has failed to, among other things, conduct the party’s national convention since then, and the development has caused confusion and acrimony among party members.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday in Abuja, Marafa said Buni was on a mission to destroy the party, arguing that the governor was not qualified to be the party’s helmsman, citing legal issues.
He said his faction was going to challenge Buni in court for being a serving governor and Chairman of the APC at the same time, contrary to the provisions of the 1999 constitution.
Marafa said Buni was never elected at the APC national convention, congress or through voting, contrary to Article 17 (4) of the APC constitution.
He said the Buni committee was frustrating stakeholders’ efforts at restoring absolute peace in the Zamfara State chapter of the party.
“We participated (in the November 13 congress) just to tell everyone that madness is not an exclusive preserve of some people. The essence of this briefing is to tell Nigerians why there is a faction again in Zamfara. Let everyone know that this faction came about because of the way the APC national chairman is trying to suppress us in Zamfara State.
“Now APC looked for our trouble; we did not look for APC’s trouble. We did everything possible to accommodate our new visitor (Matawalle) but APC at all the points frustrated us.
“It appears APC national headquarters is at loggerheads with rules and procedures. They want to prove at every point that they are law breakers and uneducated. We have participated in the congresses, after this, I am going straight to court.
“He is an executive governor and cannot be chairman of the APC. If he can, let the court tell us. I am going to challenge that. And whatever he did since the time he was appointed to this time will be called to question. I will question that.
“We had warned APC to remove this man so that he doesn’t bring everybody down to his knees. So I am on a salvage mission for my brothers and sisters that are in APC; that are investing because they are investing in nothing.
“Who elected Mai Mala and his committee? At which convention? At which congress? Are we throwing away this constitution? Anybody that cares for APC let them come out and tell us,” Marafa said.
We will meet in court– Buni
Reacting, the Director-General, Press and Media Affairs Buni, Mamman Mohammed, said Marafa should go to court.
“As a responsible politician, he should just approach the court and stop being the complainant and juror.
“Marafa’s vituperations on the Zamfara Congress and leadership of APC are nothing but an empty ranting of an ant. He is only complaining now because his camp failed the congress and lost out.
“He wouldn’t have been shouting if he had won. Marafa is a sinking politician who lost out and is holding everyone responsible for his self-inflicted political misfortune,” he said.