BY TIMOTHY ELEREWE:
The leadership crisis rocking the ruling party, APC became deeper Wednesday as a dominant group of stakeholders in the party faulted what it described as an illegal imposition of Senator Abiola Ajimobi as the Acting Deputy National Chairman of the party.
The group under the eagies of 2018 APC Convention Contestants Forum described those laying claim to the position of Acting National Chairman as comedians.
In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Hon. Frank Ossai, warned those jostling for the leadership positions of the party outside due process to await the consequences of their illegally afterwards.
Ossai maintained that those claiming to be occupying the position of Acting National Chairman were mere usurpers who would lose out in the end.
He counselled the party to fill all vacant positions from among those who contested for positions in the last 2018 elective convention.
The Forum particularly frowned at the action of the party which announced Sen Abiola Ajimobi as the Acting National Chairman, arguing that the position of the party is illegal.
Ossai statement couldn’t believe what it described as cocktail of comedies at the party national secretariat particularly as it concerns the Deputy National Secretary of the party, Mr Victor Giadom, who is still relying on the ex parte order he got on March 16, 2020 from FCT High Court mandating him to act as Acting National Chairman of the party which had slated its National Executive Committee(NEC) meeting for March 17, 2020 which was later shelved on the advise of President Muhammad Buhari.
“The order of March 16, 2020 was obtained to serve as a guide for the party and to appoint the person that is meant to preside over an Emergency National Executive Committee meeting that. to hold on March 17, 2020 in the absence of Mr. Oshiomhole who, at that particular time was suspended. The Forum national secretary argued that Giadom could no longer rely on the said ex parte order of March 16, 2020 as it has effectively staled after seven days unless it was renewed and last for another seven days which in this case, was not re-validated.
To Ossai, Giadom ex parte order has since died because it has been overtaken by events in the party thereafter .suspended by an order of the Court” which the Appeal Court later the same evening of March 16, issued a stay of execution of the order of suspension on Oshiomhole. Mr Giadom, he further argued, is no longer the next most senior/ranking National Officer of APC.
“The order of 16th March 2020Â granting leave on Mr Giadom to preside over the meeting of 17th March 2020 and act as the Acting National Chairman of the party for the purpose of such meeting was due to the fact that, as at the time court made its ex perte order. At that same time Giadom ex parte order was given, the National Chairman of the party was suspended, the position of the Deputy National Chairman(South)was vacant
“As if the jokes Mr Giadom turned the National Secretariat of APC to was not enough, another faction of leaders arose! Mr Hillary Eta, the APC National Vice Chairman (South South) ostensibly woke up from deep slumber he and other National Vice Chairmen of APC have been talking and decided to take the reins of power in the absence of the anointed candidate for the position of Acting National Chairman, Sen. Ajimobi who is currently battling with the novel Coronavirus”, he explained
The group maintained that all the unfilled positions in the party as it is, are still vacant. The party should as a matter of urgency do the necessary legal thing to move the party forward.
