Impending saga looms over who takes up the role of the acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress following the suspension of the party’s incumbent, Adams Oshiomhole.
The party’s Deputy National Chairman (South) Abiola Ajimobi and its Deputy National Secretary, Chief Victor Giadom emerged in the battle for the acting successor to suspended Oshiomhole.
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party had on Tuesday announced Ajimobi, a former governor of Oyo State, as its Acting National Chairman while a statement credited to Wole Afolabi, counsel to Giadom claimed his client remains the lawful acting National Chairman of the party.
APC NWC’s Position
The party, reacting to the appellate court decision in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Lanre Issa-Onilu, said: All Progressives Congress (APC) has received the news indicating the Appeal Court has upheld the suspension of the Party’s National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole by an FCT High Court pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Related Ajimobi is APC acting National Chairman
“Guided by advice from the party’s legal department in line with the provisions of Section 14.2. (iii) of the party’s Constitution, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Sen. Abiola Ajimobi will serve as the Party’s Acting National Chairman.
“According to Section 14.2. (iii) of the APC constitution, the Deputy National Chairman, North/South “Shall act as the National Chairman in the absence of the National Chairman from his zone.”
Reaction from Giadom’s camp
A press release by Chief Oluwole Afolabi, Esq insists Court recognizes Victor Giadom as acting National Chairman of APC.
The statement reads:
Our attention has been drawn to a statement purportedly issued by the Publicity Secretary of the APC to the effect that Senator Abiola Ajumobi is to act as the National Chairman of APC following the suspension from office of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole by the Court of Appeal.
We wish to state that the statement must have been issued in complete ignorance of 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.
The order was given the same day that the Court of Appeal earlier gave Oshiomhole a temporary respite by staying the execution of the said order suspending Oshiomhole. Now that the Court of Appeal has affirmed the order of suspension, it is only proper that the Order recognizing Chief Victor Giadom is implemented.
Consequently, we have written to all law-enforcement agencies to implement the said order and any one who attempts to parade himself/herself other than Chief Victor Giadom as the Acting Chairman of the APC would be facing contempt of court proceedings.
Thank You,
CHIEF WOLE AFOLABI,
Counsel to the Plaintiff
