How APC NWC Retained Oshiomhole’s Structure In Absential

In the face of the wrangling over who controls the APC, 16 out of 20 members of National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have upheld the structure of the party laid down by its embattled national chairman, comrade Adams Oshiomhole who was sacked by the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

This came after moves by the Deputy National Secretary of the party, Victor Giadom to take over the affairs of the party was resisted by the pro-Oshiomhole camp which quickly conveyed a NEC meeting at the APC Headquarters, Abuja and announced the party’s Deputy Chairman (South), Senator Abiola Ajimobi as the Acting Chairman of the party.

BIGPEN had reported that 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 party’s forthcoming gubernatorial primary.

He was said to have hinged his action 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.

However, majority of the NWC members backed the appointment of Ajimobi for the Acting Chairmanship position after rising from the NWC’s 45th emergency meeting held at the party’s national secretariat, according to report.

Ajimobi, the immediate past Governor of Oyo state was endorsed by the NWC members in absential as he was reported to be currently down with Coronavirus disease, receiving treatment at a health care facility in Lagos.

Due to Ajimobi’s absence, the NWC also picked APC Vice-Chairman, South-South, Prince Hilliard Eta to hold forth for Ajimobi till he’s officially able to resume duty.

According to the National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu, the party’s action is backed by its constitution.

Issa-Onilu’s statement read: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) rose from a meeting at the Party’s National Secretariat on Wednesday affirming Sen. Abiola Ajimobi as the Party’s Acting National Chairman following the Appeal Court’s ruling affirming the suspension of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as National Chairman and in line with Section 14.2 (iii) of the Party’s Constitution.

“Due to Sen. Ajimobi’s unavoidable absence, NWC unanimously appointed the Party’s National Vice Chairman (South South), Prince Hilliard Etta to act on Sen. Ajimobi’s behalf, an action backed by the Party’s constitution which empowers the NWC to appoint one of its members in acting capacity and stipulates that the acting National chairman must be from the zone of the National Chairman.

“Sixteen members of the NWC attended the meeting held at the Party’s National Secretariat (13 members attended physically and three others joined the meeting online).”

Meanwhile, the NWC has nullified the Giadom’s cancellation of Edo governorship screening, which disqualified Governor Godwin Obaseki as candidate.

The NWC members also declared the seat of Giadom vacant. Giadom, it was gathered had resigned in 2018 to serve as the Deputy Governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers State. After the 2019 poll, Giadom returned to office at the National Secretariat without a fresh nomination by South-South Zone of the party.

The NWC said by the provision of Article 31(iii) of the APC constitution, Giadom had ceased to be a national officer of the party since 2018.

APC Publicity Secretary, Issa-Onilu in a statement said the party’s NWC announced that the primary will go on as scheduled.

The election via direct primary is scheduled for 22nd June, 2020.
Election Appeal is scheduled for Wednesday 24 June.

He said members of the Primary Election Committee are Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodinma – Chairman; Sen. Ajibola Bashiru (Secretary); Alh. Abdullahi Abass; Hon. Ibrahim Sabo; Hon. Ocho Obioma; Hajia Amina Lantana Muhammed and Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye.

He said members of the Primary Election Appeal Committee are Prof. Mustapha Bello(Chairman); Dr. Kayode Ajulo (Secretary); Hon. Umar Ahmed; Nasiru Ibrahim Junju; and Hon. Rasaq Mahmud Bamu.