By Hamilton Nwosa (Head, The Diplomat Data and Trend Tracking desk)
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has approved the nomination of new national officers. Lanre Issa-Onilu, APC National Publicity Secretary, made the announcement in a statement Wednesday night.
This development is coming hours after the court ordered the suspension of APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.
The APC National Working Committee consequently named Waziri Bulama is the Party’s Acting National Secretary.
The statement further stated that following the resignation of Mai Mala Buni as National Secretary in May 2019, prior to his election as Governor of Yobe State, the APC gave notice for a replacement from the zone.“The NWC has also approved the nominations of Senator Abiola Ajimobi as the Deputy National Chairman (South) and Mr. Paul Chukwuma as the National Auditor following nominations from the respective zones”, it said.
However, political analysts who wish to remain anonymous maintain that the fight over the control of the Soul of APC by all combatants is premised principally on the forces at paly over 2023 presidential race. Said an insider: “It’s all about 2023. There are too much contending and powerful interests at the root of this crisis. It is principally about the issue of who would get the presidential ticket of the party to run in 2023. Other interest simply align and gravitate around this fierce battle. It’s serious chess game…”
Recall that a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Jabi on Wednesday had ordered the suspension of Oshiomhole, pending the determination of a substantive suit.
The judge, Danlami Senchi, who gave the order following an application of interlocutory injunction asking the court to suspend Comrade Oshiomhole, having been suspended as a member of the APC by the party in Edo State was premised on an application filed by an applicant, Oluwale Afolabi.
Afolabi in his application had contended that Comrade Oshiomhole is currently suspended by the party and has not challenged the suspension. A well known Senior Nigerian Lawyer, Damian Dodo, SAN is the lawyer representing Comrade Oshiomhole and the APC.
In his ruling on Wednesday, Justice Senchi held that the first and second respondents wrongfully and inappropriately kept Comrade Oshiomhole as the national chairman of the party.
Recall that Comrade Oshiomhole has been having a serious crisis with his successor in Edo and former political ally, Governor Godwin Obaseki. Interestingly, legal moves to suspend the APC national chairman has been on for long. Earlier this year, the moves to oust the National Chairman of the ruling APC, Oshiomhole had failed before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in Jabi, Abuja. Specifically, the court had rejected an exparte application filed by the National Vice Chairman, North East of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Comrade Mustapha Salihu, a factional Chairman of the APC in Edo state, Anselm Ojezua and others, seeking to remove the National Chairman of the party from office.
The rift between Oshiomhole and his successor in office, Governor Obaseki of Edo state heightened with the governor’s led faction of the party calling for the removal of Oshiomhole who they claimed had been suspended by the party in the state. However, the move to oust Comrade Oshiomhole hit a brick wall when the Court refused to grant the Ex Parte motion filed by Salihu, Ojezua and others.
Justice Danlami Zenchi rather ordered that the Defendants (Oshiomhiole, APC and others) be put on notice before the motion is heard so as to ensure fair hearing in the matter.
In the Claimant’s Motion Ex Parte filed by their Counsel, Oluwole Afolabi, Comrade Mustapha Salihu, Ojezua and others, the litigants had asked the court to stop the Defendant (Oshiomhole) from parading himself as National Chairman of the APC just as they urged the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) from allowing the Defendant access to the office of the National Chairman pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.
The order followed a heated argument by Counsel to the defendants, Damien Dodo SAN, who expressed shock at the alleged attempts by the Claimants to coerce the court to grant their prayers without serving the processes on the 1st and 2nd Defendants.
In his ruling, Justice Senchi said he will hear all parties instead of granting the exparte application to have Oshiomhole vacate his office as National Chairman of the APC as requested by the Plaintiffs.
The matter was consequently adjourned to 18th February 2020 for hearing of the Claimants’ application.
