…Would Gov Obaseki Reverse Himself?
It’s a wait and see game for Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki and the All Progressives Congress national leadership. This is as Deputy National Secretary of the APC, Victor Giadom, canceled the screening for the Edo Governorship Primaries after declaring himself as the Acting National Chairman of the party, Wednesday.
Addressing journalists, Giadom said: “Yesterday the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, in a unanimous judgement, affirmed the suspension of comrade Adams Oshiomhole as 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 Oshiomhole, I, Chief Hon. Victor Giadom should act as the National Chairman of our great party.
Read also: Edo 2020: Why Parties Must Conduct Primaries In 10 Days, INEC Tells APC, PDP, Others
“That Order could not be immediately effected at the time because of the temporary reprieve Adams Oshiomhole got from the Court of Appeal on the same date.
“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 primary.”
His action may have given Obaseki a rare chance at comeback in less than 24 hours of resigning his membership of the APC alongside his Deputy, Philip Shaibu.
The party’s governorship primary has been initially scheduled for 22 June, less than a week from now, but spanners could have been thrown into the works with the rapid turn of event.
Recall the incumbent Governor Obaseki was disqualified from participating in the primary process by the APC screening Committee last week.
Obaseki on Tuesday announced his resignation from APC as he was set to join the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
However, fingers are crossed on whether he would reverse himself, with this flurry of political fireworks as he hinted he was yet to move to a new party.
Wednesday, on Twitter, he wrote:“I have not moved to a new platform yet to seek re-election.
“My focus now is to control the spread of the coronavirus (#COVID19) pandemic, which is ravaging our country and threatening our healthcare system.”
Giadom had explained that he has taken over the party based on a previous court order empowering him to do so.
According to him, he has the backing of the members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
The APC through its National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu had announced ailing Abiola Ajimobi, the national deputy chairman, as acting chairman, an action it said was backed by the party’s constitution. But Ajimobi has been down with Coronavirus disease and he is currently receiving treatment in Lagos, making it a lot easier for Giadom to seize the control of APC national organ Wednesday.
Legal heads have said the judgement of the Appeal Court Tuesday, implies that all the actions taken by Oshiomhole after March amounted to a nullity.
And this would include the Governorship screening exercise, emergence of Ajimobi, as deputy chairman and Waziri Bulama, as acting national secretary.
Details later..
