JUST IN: More Dramas In APC As Pro-Oshiomhole Party’s NWC Affirms Ailing Ajimobi As Acting National Chairman

The messy crisis rocking Nigeria’s ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), took a twist again Wednesday just after Deputy National Secretary of the party, Victor Giadom declared himself acting national chairman.

Giadom, brandishing a court order, took over the leadership of the party Wednesday morning and reversed all actions undertook by Oshiomhole-led NWC including annulment of Governorship primary screening in Edo State of which Governor Godwin Obaseki was controversially disqualified from contesting in the partys forthcoming gubernatorial primary.

He is reportedly acting on the order of the FCT High Court issued on 16th of March, 2020, by Hon. Justice S.U Bature in Suit No. FCT/HC/M/6447/2020 to the effect that Chief Victor Giadom is to act as the National Chairman of the party due to the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole as the National Chairman.

Addressing the media, he said, “Yesterday the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, in a unanimous judgement, affirmed the suspension of Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomohle as the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress.

“Consequently, I bring to your notice that on the 16th of March 2020, Hon Justice S.U. Bature in suit no FCT/HC/M/6447/2020 had ordered that, with the earlier suspension of Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomohle, I Chief. Hon Victor Giadom should act as National Chairman of our great party. That Order could not be immediately effected at that time because of the temporary reprieve Adams Oshiomohle got from the Court of Appeal on the same date. However, having removed the temporary reprieve yesterday by the Court of Appeal and considering the fact that we cannot allow for a vaacum, I most humbly inform you that I have assumed office as Acting National Chairman of our great party in compliance with the order of the court.

“I therefore, most humbly solicit the support of the entire leadership and members of our great party in achieving this very important responsibility. I want to assure all party members that the All Progressives Congress will obey court orders/judgements as to bring sanity to our great party. Time for selective compliance of Court Orders and judgements is over.

“Our party, the All Progressives Congress, will no longer allow local quests for the control of power to influence our decisions. As your Acting National Chairman and presiding officer in the NWC, we therefore cancel the decision of the Screening and Appeal Committees of the former Chairman of the party on the Edo primaries. This is in strict compliance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that forbids anyone who is interested in a cause to be a judge in that same cause.

“In addition to the above the Deputy Organising Secretary of the All Progressive Congress, Hon. Muhammad Sani Ibrahim, shall immediately resume office as the Acting. National Organising Secretary in compliance with the judgement of the Federal High Court in suit no: FHC/ABJ/CS/733/2018 which removed the former National Organising Secretary Mr Emmanuel Ibediro since 24th of September 2018. This is to ensure strict compliance with the Rule of Law. Finally, I seek for cooperation of party leaders at all levels in this onerous task of reposition the leadership of the party so as to guarantee fairness and justice to all”, he said.

“It is a brazen rape on the Rule of Law and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the former Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomohle to preside and select Committees in respect to the Governorship primaries in Edo State being a key player in the crisis in that State. Whatever role the former Chairman was given to play in that process by the APC constitution, it cannot override the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which governs all of us. We therefore, ask all Aspirants in the Governorship Primaries to report for fresh screening between today and tomorrow. I call on all aspirants to remain in the All Progressives Congress as we guarantee fairness and justice to all concerned. The schedule and time for each aspirant shall be communicated.

But shortly after this, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) disowned Giadom and ratified Abiola Ajimobi as the Acting National Chairman.

According to the NWC, Giadom’s membership of the party ceased when he resigned to contest the Deputy Governorship position in Rivers State.

National Vice-Chairman (South-South) of the APC, Hilliard Eta, who addressed the media soon after Giadom left the party’s secretariat, said preparations for the Edo Governorship primary was on course.