The battle for the soul of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) is lingering with Chief Victor Gaidom waving the judgment of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, which he claims, recognized him as the Authentic Acting National Chairman of the party.
Chief Giadom said that following the ruling of the FCT High Court and Tuesday’s affirmation of same judgment upholding former National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s suspension, and declared all his actions since his suspension, null and void, as the party’s Deputy National Secretary, he is the highest ranking official.
APC National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Isa-Onilu, had on Tuesday announced ailing Senator Abiola Ajimobi as the Acting National Chairman, being the Deputy National Chairman (South).
Meanwhile, the APC National Working Committee (NWC) met on Wednesday and affirmed Senator Ajimobi as its Acting National Chairman.
Rising from its 45th emergency meeting, which had 15 of the 21 NWC members in attendance; the committee affirmed the leadership of Ajimobi.
National Vice Chairman (South South), Chief Hilary Eta, who was elected to chair the meeting, announced the composition of the seven-member Edo State Governorship Election Panel to conduct the June 22 primary elections.
Governor Hope Uzodima of Imo State is to serve as chairman of the panel while Senator Ajibola Bashiru will serve as panel secretary.
He also announced the composition of a five-man Election Appeal Panel headed by Prof. Mustapha Bello and Dr. Kayode Ajulo as the Secretary of the panel.
And to add to the twist in the party, Eta said Hon Victor Giadon has ceased to be a member of the NWC as he resigned to contest for Deputy Governorship of Rivers State during the last general elections.
But Giadom, who spoke through his counsel, Wole Afolabi, said consequent upon an order of the FCT High Court issued on March 16, 2020, by Hon. Justice S.U Bature in Suit No. FCT/HC/M/6447/202, “Chief Victor Giadom is to act as the National Chairman.”
A statement issued by his lawyer, Chief Wole Afolabi, reads:
COURT RECOGNIZES VICTOR GIADOM AS ACTING NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF APC
“Our attention has been drawn to a Statement purportedly issued by the Publicity Secretary of the APC to the effect that Senator Abiola Ajumobi is to act as the National Chairman of APC following the suspension from office of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole by the Court of Appeal.
“We wish to state that the statement must have been issued in complete ignorance of the order of the FCT High Court issued on 16th of March, 2020, by Hon. Justice S.U Bature in Suit No. FCT/HC/M/6447/2020 to the effect that Chief Victor Giadom is to act as the National Chairman of the party due to the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole as the National Chairman.
“The order was given the same day that the Court of Appeal earlier gave Oshiomhole a temporary respite by staying the execution of the said order suspending Oshiomhole. Now that the Court of Appeal has affirmed the order of suspension, it is only proper that the Order recognizing Chief Victor Giadom is implemented.
“Consequently, we have written to all law-enforcement agencies to implement the said order and anyone who attempts to parade himself/herself other than Chief Victor Giadom as the Acting Chairman of the APC would be facing contempt of court proceedings.”