Following the critical health challenges confronting Senator Abiola Ajimobi, who was yesterday appointed the Acting National Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC), the National Vice Chairman South-South, Hilliard Eta, has been appointed Acting National Chairman of the party pending when Ajimobi will be fit to resume in the office.
According to Tribune, Eta revealed that at the meeting of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), held today, Senator Ajimobi was endorsed as the Acting National Chairman.
Eta further revealed that 15 out 21 NWC members attended the NWC Meeting, stressing that at the meeting, NWC voted for the immediate past Governor of Oyo State to lead the party in an acting capacity.
He said that the Committee also constituted two committees on the controversial Edo State governorship election, adding that the committee was aware of the court order of yesterday and in dealing with the matter, resorted strictly to the Constitution of the party, because the Constitution is intended to deal with matters such as this.
He said, “That in the event of the inability of an officer of the party, the Constitution is invested with the process of replacement and so according to the Constitution of the party, the NWC re-affirms the Deputy National Chairman (South) as the acting national chairman of the party. And in his absence, as also enshrined in our constitution, the National Vice-chairman of the party from the zone of which the national chairman hails from and in this case, the South-south acts on behalf of Ajimobi. The party is running on a comeback. The Constitution of the party envisages that from time to time we will have this kind of circumstances, and because this is so, the Constitution provides us with remedies”.
As regards the on-going Edo State primaries of the party, the NWC constituted a seven-man election panel for the Edo primary elections scheduled to hold on the 22nd of June 2020.
The members of the panel are Senator Hopes Uzodinma as Chairman, Senator Ajibola Bashiru as Secretary, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, Hon. Ibrahim Sabo, Hon. Ojo Obioma, Hajia Amina Muhammad and Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye as members.
To serve in the primary election appeal committee are Prof. Mustapha Bello as chairman, Dr Kayode Ajulo as secretary, Hon. Umar Ahmed, Nasir Dundun, and Hon. Rasaq Mahmud as members.
According to him, “It is also noted that Chief Victor Giadom had resigned to contest as Deputy Governor of the party in the last election and that the party has no recollection that the South-south zone of the party had re-presented him. Therefore, the NWC has now asked the South-south of the party to present a member of the party to fill this position”. Hilliard stated at the press conference at the Secretariat.
He explained, “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, 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 vacuum, 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/judgement as to bring sanity to our great party. Time for selective compliance of Court Orders and judgement is over”.
He stated further, “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. 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. 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”, he concluded.
