TELL Magazine

Barring any more judicial interventions, the fate of Adams Oshiomohle as the chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, appears sealed. Pushed to the wall, President Muhammadu Buhari, in a rare direct intervention, stepped in on Thursday to stabilize the party through the emergency virtual national executive committee, NEC, meeting in a manner that may yet stoke more conflict.

The National Working Committee, NWC of the party was dissolved and a 13- man caretaker committee headed by Mai Mala Buni, governor of Yobe State, and John James Akpanudoedehe, a former minister of state for FCT, as its secretary, was set up to organize a national convention of the party to elect a new NWC in six months’ time.

The President said in his speech, “The meeting may adopt the developed resolution as contained in the agenda and pass resolutions including: approving the immediate discontinuation of all pending litigations involving the party and its members; ratifying the primary election conducted in Edo State; dissolving the current National Working Committee, and appointing caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee for the party.

“Fellow party members, this is a very crucial moment in the life of our party and it is with a deep sense of concern that I stand before you today to speak as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who has been elected on the platform of our great party – the All Progressives Congress. The issues currently confronting our party at this time are such that should worry every party member. At the moment, our great party is faced with internal wrangling; there are ongoing litigations amongst some party members and we cannot clearly ascertain the status of certain National Working Committee (NWC) members.

“There are also other associated disputes as to the legitimacy or otherwise of holders of certain national offices of the party. The party is also contending with judicial claims and counter-claims, orders and counter-orders and indeed judgments and counter-judgments that are predominantly at cross-purposes. Confronted with these issues, it is obvious that the fortunes of the party are currently in jeopardy, administration of our party is becoming impossible, and there is consequently an urgent need for intervention to immediately arrest further drift and internal wrangling, which may lead to total disintegration. What we see clearly emerging is that we are beginning to self-destruct. This, my dear party members, is not just regrettable but utterly gut-wrenching.”

Buhari’s recommendations were accepted and ratified by the meeting, and Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice swore in Buni as the chairman of the caretaker committee. The appointment of a caretaker committee did not take into consideration of the zoning arrangement in the party. The position of the national chairman was zoned to the South-south.

Atiku Bagudu, governor of Kebbi State and chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, briefed State House Correspondents on the outcome of the meeting.

“The meeting was well attended, most importantly by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Deputy Senate President, speaker, deputy speaker, governors from different APC state.

“We are indeed very grateful that the President and the NEC expressed confidence in the governors by appointing these distinguished personalities and we are happy that today, the issues bedeviling our party, have been laid to rest by these momentous decisions. And we are equally congratulating Mr. President on the exercise of the mandate that has been given to him by Nigerians and today, the party issues should not distract him but have been sorted out.”

The Meeting ratified the election of Pastor Ize-Iyamu as the party’s flag bearer in the Sptember19 Edo State gubernatorial election.

“Equally, the meeting ratified all decisions that have been taken in Edo State primary and screening and a name will be forwarded properly to INEC. The name of our candidate in the Edo gubernatorial election and equally the schedule of activities that will commence on the Ondo State primary, for which by God’s grace, we will also be presenting a candidate, will commence under the leadership of the caretaker committee.”

Members of the caretaker committee are: Governor of Yobe State, chairman, governor of Niger State representing North-Central and Osun State governor, representing the South-West; John Akpanudoedehe, secretary; Ken Nnamani, Stella Okotete, Dr. James Lalu, Senator Abubakar Yusuf, Akinyemi Olaide, David Lyon, Abba Ari, Prof. Tahir Mamman and Ismail Ahmed.

Meanwhile, the sacked NWC has rejected the development. “The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) wishes to reiterate its earlier position that Chief Victor Giadom has no authority whatsoever to convene National Executive Committee of our great party.

“Article 25(B) of the Constitution of APC was explicit that only the National Chairman or and the National Working Committee are given the prerogative of summoning meetings of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party either for statutory quarterly meetings or for Emergency meetings. The same provision of the constitution made it compulsory for a notice of a minimum of 14 days in respect of statutory quarterly meetings and 7 days in respect of emergency meetings.

“We note that Chief Victor Giadom had convened and conducted a virtual meeting purportedly to be a National Executive Committee of our party wherein certain far-reaching resolutions were reached. While the National Working Committee is studying the unfolding drama, it will be consulting with stakeholders and team of lawyers on the next line of action.

“Therefore all members of our great party and concerned Nigerians are implored to ignore the Chief Victor Giadom charade and the decision therefrom.”

However, the Sokoto State chapter of the party congratulated the party on the development.

“We equally congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari for taking appropriate and timely action to save the party from disintegration,” stated Isa Achida, state party chairman Thursday.

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