The controversy over who will act as the spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the absence of the former National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Thursday, December 11, 2015 took a new dimension as the party said his deputy, Timi Frank, can no longer speak for the party.
Although the party said the National Secretary, Mallam Mai-Malla Buni, is henceforth to act as the spokesman of the party, Frank has kicked against it, describing it as a breach of the party’s constitution.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said arrangement had been made for the national secretary to perform the duties of the national publicity secretary pending the election of a substantive officer.
While responding to concerns raised by journalists regarding the clash of positions between the secretary and the deputy publicity secretary, Oyegun said, “If there is any issue that needs clarification for now, the national secretary can handle it.”
“Let me start by saying who does not speak for the party, the person you are talking about (Frank) does not speak for the party. The national secretary will do so for the party and also when I speak, I speak for the party. It is as simple as that,” he said.
However, Timi Frank has kicked against the chairman’s position, saying such amounted to usurpation of his responsibility as provided for in the party’s constitution.
Frank who addressed a press conference, said categorically that he still remains the party’s spokesman until a new election is conducted to pick a replacement for Mohammed, who has taken a job as minister of Information.
