By Hamilton Nwosa (Head Business and Data Tracking Desk)
The political intrigues and crises rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have taken a new dimension as political forces engage in intense war over 2023 presidential polls with the result that the suspension of the party’s national chairman, comrade Adams Oshiomhole is being seen as a mere scene in the unfolding chess game drama. Sources say it is a proxy war involving forces interested in the 2023 presidential race, including former Lagos State governor, and a national leader of the party, Senator Bola Tinubu, chairman of the Governors Forum, and Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi(with some other governors), and top political leaders drawn from both the North and South.
The intriguing battle which continued Friday with the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) throwing their weight behind the suspension of the party’s national chairman, Oshiomhole, has however attracted the ire of the party’s National Working Committee(NWC) which issued a statement today. In a detailed statement issued and signed by the trio of Babatunde Ogala, national legal adviser, Lanre Issa-Onilu, National publicity Secretary and Waziri Bulama, national Secretary , the NWC dismissed the said convocation of a NEC meeting as illegal (allegedly scheduled for March 17). The statement also urged party members to ignore the said call as it did not emanate from the legal and appropriate authorities. They said: “ Members of the National Executive Committee and the totality of the members of our great Party are therefore requested to ignore the said Notice and/or invitation as a product of mischief that should not be given any probative value.
“The National Working Committee (NWC) shall continue to protect our Constitution and convene its meetings and the National Executive Committee Meetings in accordance with the provisions of the Party Constitution.”
Recall that Victor Giadeon , a deputy national secretary of the APC had announced that the party has reached a decision to hold a NEC meeting on March 17 stressing that the essence of the meeting was to formally arrive at some crucial decisions including taking firm position on the fate of the party’s national chairman . This was coming against the backdrop of the PGF’s Director-General, Salihu Lukman’s description of an Abuja High court injunction against Oshiomhole as a “big opportunity” to reposition the party ahead of the 2023 general election.
The Governors forum, while acknowledging the existence of the conflicting court orders of the Abuja and Kano federal high courts, respectively had called for the appointment of an acting national chairman. “Already, this is the second year since the last Convention in 2018 where Comrade Oshiomhole-led NWC was elected. What this means is that with or without our current challenges we are actually due for a National Convention,” Lukman said.
But in a swift response, the the APC NWC meeting which held today rose in strong protest against attempts by “persons and 2023 actors” to throw the party into chaos. The Statement added that it amounts to a breach of the APC constitution for the deputy national secretary to make illegal statements. The statement read further:
“The attention of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to a purported invitation to an Emergency National Executive Committee meeting of our great Party slated for Wednesday, 17th March, 2020, which invitation is credited to Hon. (Chief) Victor Giadom, the Deputy National Secretary of the Party. The Party’s constitution provides that a National Executive Committee meeting shall be convoked as follows:
“Article 25 (B) (i) and (ii)The National Executive Committee shall meet every quarter and or at any time decided by the National Chairman or at the request made in writing by at least two-third of the members of the National Executive Committee provided that not less that fourteen (14) days notice is given for the meeting to be summoned.
“Without prejudice to Article 25(B)(i) of this Constitution the National Working Committee may summon an Emergency National Executive Committee meeting at any time, provided that at least seven (7) days notice of the meeting shall be given to all those entitled to attend.
“Neither the National Chairman nor the resolution of two thirds of members of the National Executive Committee has directed nor made any request to summon a National Executive Committee Meeting of the Party.
“The said Victor Giadom is not vested with any Constitutional Powers to convene any Meeting of the National Executive Committee. Neither has he been so directed by the National Chairman.”
Recall that the crisis rocking the APC had snowballed into a major confrontation following recent legal fireworks over the suspension and counter lifting of suspension of Comrade Oshiomhole in office with an Federal High Court In Kano setting aside the ruling of the FCT High Court which previously suspended him as the National Chairman of the party.
Delivering the judgment on Thursday, Justice Lewis Allagoa had ordered the police and Department of State Service (DSS) to provide security for Oshiomhole to resume in his office. The New Diplomat had earlier reported that the FCT High Court sitting in Jabi on Wednesday, had similarly 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.
However, political analysts who wish to remain anonymous attribute the fight to the fierce war “ to take over the Soul of APC by all combatants at war and it is premised principally on the forces at play 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…”
The rift between Oshiomhole and his successor in office, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state has also heightened with the governor’s led faction of the party calling for the removal of Oshiomhole. However, moves 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.
See full statement by NWC
RE: PURPORTED NOTICE OF EMERGENCY NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
The attention of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to a purported invitation to an Emergency National Executive Committee meeting of our great Party slated for Wednesday, 17th March, 2020, which invitation is credited to Hon. (Chief) Victor Giadom, the Deputy National Secretary of the Party.
The Party’s constitution provides that a National Executive Committee meeting shall be convoked as follows:
Article 25 (B) (i) and (ii)
The National Executive Committee shall meet every quarter and or at any time decided by the National Chairman or at the request made in writing by at least two-third of the members of the National Executive Committee provided that not less that fourteen (14) days notice is given for the meeting to be summoned.
Without prejudice to Article 25(B)(i) of this Constitution the National Working Committee may summon an Emergency National Executive Committee meeting at any time, provided that at least seven (7) days notice of the meeting shall be given to all those entitled to attend.
Neither the National Chairman nor the resolution of two thirds of members of the National Executive Committee has directed nor made any request to summon a National Executive Committee Meeting of the Party.
The said Victor Giadom is not vested with any Constitutional Powers to convene any Meeting of the National Executive Committee. Neither has he been so directed by the National Chairman.
The National Working Committee therefore disassociates itself from the said illegal and unauthorized Notice of Meeting of the National Executive Committee.
Members of the National Executive Committee and the totality of the members of our great Party are therefore requested to ignore the said Notice and/or invitation as a product of mischief that should not be given any probative value.
The National Working Committee (NWC) shall continue to protect our Constitution and convene its meetings and the National Executive Committee Meetings in accordance with the provisions of the Party Constitution.
Signed:
Babatunde Ogala Esq
National Legal Adviser
Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu
National Publicity Secretary
Arc. Waziri Bulama
National Secretary”
