THE National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has named Abiola Ajimobi, former governor of Oyo State as the acting National Chairman of the party.
Lanre Issa-Onilu, National Publicity Secretary of APC who made this known in a press statement said the action followed the affirmation of the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole as the party’s national chairman by the Appeal Court.
Issa-Onilu’s statement reads: “Guided by advice from the Party’s legal department in line with the provisions of Section 14.2. (iii) of the Party’s constitution, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Sen. Abiola Ajimobi will serve as the Party’s Acting National Chairman.
According to Section 14.2. (iii),of the APC constitution, the Deputy National Chairman, North/South “Shall act as the National Chairman in the absence of the National Chairman from his zone.”
Adams Oshiomole, former labour leader and immediate past governor of Edo state had his suspension from the APC upheld by the Appeal Court on Tuesday.
The three-man panel led by the Court’s president dismissed Oshiomole’s appeal against his suspension for lacking in merit.
In another blow to the former governor, some top members of the APC National Working Committee claimed that Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, whose desire to contest for a second term on the platform of the APC was truncated last week Friday by a Screening Panel set up by Adams Oshiomole, had not officially resigned from the party.
Sources at the NWC told Elendu Reportso that the party was unaware of the governor’s resignation. “We’re not aware. When did he resign? We don’t have any letter to that effect. It’s all rumors…,” a source told our reporter.
Other NWC sources told our reporter that the Screening Panel would be disbanded in the coming days adding a new panel would be constituted to do a fresh screening.
This new Panel, the source said is expected to screen Governor Obaseki and other aspirants before an indirect primary will be conducted.
Reports reaching our newsroom indicate that the Edo State capital, Benin is in a jubilant mood following the Appeal Court ruling which confirmed Oshiomole’s ouster.