Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: APC National

  • Ajimobi’s APC NWC to Buhari: You’re ill-advised, don’t attend Giadom’s NEC Meeting

    Ajimobi’s APC NWC to Buhari: You’re ill-advised, don’t attend Giadom’s NEC Meeting

    Idowu Sowunmi

    Ahead of tomorrow’s virtual meeting of the National Executive Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) called by the party’s Acting National Chairman, Victor Giadom, the factional leaders of the party Wednesday said they would boycott the meeting, which President Muhammadu Buhari has signified his interest to attend.

    The factional leaders under the chairmanship of Senator Abiola Ajimobi-led National Working Committee (NWC) described tomorrow’s meeting as illegal.

    Rising from a meeting at APC National Secretariat in Abuja in Wednesday night, Ajimobi’s NWC said the President must have been ill-advised or blackmailed into accepting the proposal for Thursday’s meeting.

    “We wish to unequivocally state that members of the National Working Committee (NWC) believe that the President was offered wrong advice or blackmailed into lending his weighty office to the illegality of the National Executive Committee meeting purportedly convened by one Victor Giadom on 25th June, 2020.

    “We hereby respectfully implore Mr. President to kindly avail himself with facts of the matter regarding the impasse presently experienced by the party so as to guide him in his assessment of the matter because we are sure that the President if properly advised, would come to the conclusion that the meeting convened by Chief Victor Giadom bothers on illegality and criminality.

    “The National Working Committee (NWC) regrets to turn down the invitation to the illegal and unconstitutional National Executive Committee (NEC) convened by Chief Victor Giadom.

    “We believe that attending such a meeting will amount to embracing illegalities and turning a blind eye to the infractions on the constitution of our great party,” said a statement signed by the National Vice Chairman (South-south), Hilliard Eta who is standing in for Ajimobi; and co-signed by the party’s National Secretary, Waziri Bulama.

    Letter by the Ajimobi NWC factional Acting Chairman, Hilliard Eta
  • APC Crisis: How Amaechi’s intervention made Buhari to recognise Giadom’s faction

    APC Crisis: How Amaechi’s intervention made Buhari to recognise Giadom’s faction

    Idowu Sowunmi

    It’s no longer news that President Muhammadu Buhari has recognised Victor Giadom as Acting National Chairman, with a promise to attending the virtual meeting called by Giadom tomorrow afternoon.

    Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari admitted that he has been well schooled and legally advised accordingly on the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “The President has received very convincing advice on the position of the law as far as the situation in the party is concerned and has determined that the law is on the side of Victor Giadom as Acting National Chairman. Because he will always act in accordance with the law, the President will be attending the virtual meeting Giadom called for tomorrow afternoon.

    “We urge the media to stop promoting manufactured controversies and to not give any further room for mischievous interpretations of the law on this matter.

    “In addition to the President, the Giadom meeting will, hopefully, be attended by our Governors and the leaders of the National Assembly,” said a statement by Shehu, in response to enquiry by some journalists.

    Sources at the Presidency said Buhari’s new position was made possible by the intervention of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

    Amaechi’s singular effort has made some political analysts to describe him as the new kid on the block of Nigerian politics.

    “He (Amaechi) understands the game of power. He practises politics with so much dexterity and sagacity. His influence looms larger than life in the Presidency. When he speaks and analyses politics, every one is often taken awe.

    “That’s how he succeeded in winning President Buhari and other key people in Presidency to accept the candidacy of Victor Giadom as the Acting National Chairman of APC. The deal is done. Welcome to a new era in the ruling party,” said the source.

    Amaechi’s intervention was coming after Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, and Giadom made unsuccessful frantic efforts to meet Buhari over the APC crisis.

    Though the duo visited the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday night, they could not see the President. Instead, the President’s Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari, attended to them.

    Earlier, Amaechi claimed he had decided to keep out of the crisis rocking APC because he did not want to get involved in politics, noting that he’s not sure what the cause of the crisis was.

    He had said: “What is happening in APC, I don’t know; what is happening in Rivers State, I don’t know. What I’ve done is to keep away from politics. Even if I’m bothered, it’ll be internally.

    “There’s nobody there (in the party) who is a child; we’re all adults. I don’t want to get involved in politics.

    “Nigerians know me for being blunt and honest. Some see it as arrogance, some see it as being brash, whatever it is. What do I need to say that I have not said before? It’s internal dynamics of politics, it’s internal struggle.

    “So, I have said it several times. When we fought in 2015, I said this country cannot continue the way it is going. I’m not helpless, but I’m doing what they call ‘siddon look (sit down and look).”

    But, on Wednesday his politics of “siddon look” took flight to unknown destination as he moved in to save the party from further crisis.

    With Giadom’s recognition, it may be politically difficult for Adams Oshiomhole and his sympathisers to return to the leadership mantle of APC.

    As APC supporters and Nigerians await the official statements of Mr. President tomorrow afternoon during the party’s virtual meeting called by Giadom, one thing seems to be certain for now: there’s a new sheriff in town and the ruling party may not be the same again.

  • Edo APC Primary: Obaseki Describes His Disqualification as Disheartening as Ize-Iyamu Hails Screening Committee

    Edo APC Primary: Obaseki Describes His Disqualification as Disheartening as Ize-Iyamu Hails Screening Committee

    Idowu Sowunmi
    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Friday described as unfortunate and disheartening his disqualification by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Screening Committee from participating in the June 22 guber primary in the schedule.
    The governor said the situation was quite saddening because APC has failed to live up to expectations as a party supposedly reputed for change, equity and social justice.
    Thus, Obaseki ruled out the possibility of appealing to the outcome of the alleged “unjust screening exercise.”
    “We have watched the mockery of democratic process, which Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, is administering and superintending over in our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). It has been an unfortunate, disheartening and dreadful spectacle.
    “We had initially asserted that going by the open display and enthronement of illegality by one man in the party that comprises several organs and eminent personalities, there is no way that Governor Godwin Obaseki would get a fair assessment in the run-up to the nomination of candidates to fly the flag of the party in the forthcoming Edo gubernatorial election.
    “It is unfortunate that this open show of shame, illegality and travesty of justice is the brand of democracy which Comrade Oshiomhole has reduced the APC into. The situation is quite saddening because this is a party supposedly reputed for change, equity and social justice.
    “We have therefore decided that it would be effort in futility to appeal whatever the unjust outcome of the evaluation and screening process of the APC will be, especially when Comrade Oshiomhole has declared that he is the Supreme Court and ultimate determiner of the fate and future of our great party.
    “We wish Oshiomhole luck in his maladministration of the party and trust that the Almighty will help our country to find the path to true liberty, freedom and justice.
    “We call on all party members and the teeming supporters of Governor Obaseki to remain calm and await further directives,” said Obaseki, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie.
    The APC Screening Committee has disqualified Edo State governor from contesting in the party’s governorship primary election scheduled for June 22.
    The committee chairman, Prof. Jonathan Ayuba, made the disclosure in a press conference on Friday afternoon.
    He said the governor did not present his Higher School Leaving Certificate, adding that the committee could not ascertain the authenticity of Obaseki’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.
    Ayuba said the committee recommended that the incumbent Edo State governor was not eligible to contest in the election.
    However, Dr. Pius Odubu and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu were cleared to contest.
    Meanwhile, Ize-Iyamu has expressed gratitude to the screening committee of the party for carrying out a thorough job.
    Ize-Iyamu, in a statement on Friday in Benin by the Director of Communication and Media of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s Campaign Organisation, Mr John Mayaki, commended the leadership of the ruling party its true spirit and character premised on “a bold insistence on fairness, accountability, and transparency.”
    He said: “I wish to send my deepest gratitude to all the members of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, for joyful cooperation that led to a seamless but thorough screening exercise.
    “I urge all the members of our party whose indefatigable commitment, loyalty, and cooperation has led to the success we experienced in recent times, to remain focused and committed to our general ambition as a party, and in the same vein pursuant of our personal political dreams in light of our progressive philosophy.
    “As we prepare for the primaries and the election itself, it is time we bind together and close ranks, remembering that the greatest goal is the progress of Edo State, the moving forward of our great homeland, and the betterment of life for all of its people.”
    But, a former APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has predicted that the ruling party would suffer “dire consequences” in Edo State on account of the disqualification of Obaseki by the APC screening panel.
    Odigie-Oyegun, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Chief Ray Morphy, in Abuja on Friday, described the outcome of the screening as a hatchet job aimed at installing a stooge that would allegedly allow some people unfettered access to the treasury of Edo State.
    “While not a surprise, that disqualification is a clear indication that internal democracy has been murdered in APC, a party which we founded on the principles of fair play and good conscience!
    “I daresay that APC will suffer dire consequences in Edo State if this disqualification is not speedily reversed.
    “As a matter of fact, Oshiomhole is indeed the one who is guilty of anti-party (activities), not Obaseki.
    “Oshiomhole is the one who is acting unconstitutionally not Obaseki. I hope that Oshiomhole will not go down in history as the undertaker of APC,” Odigie-Oyegun said.
    The Chairman of Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Anselm Ojezua, Esq., has, however, called for calm among party members and supporters following the unjust disqualification of the governor.
    While noting that Obaseki has performed credibly well and would still be reelected for a second term, Ojezua said: “I want to appeal to leaders and members of APC in Edo State to remain calm. The validity of the Screening Committee has not been established.
    “A proper response to the report is yet to come as the leadership of the party in the state will meet tomorrow and at the end of the meeting give an appropriate response.
    “They didn’t say he will not contest the election but that he will not contest under the platform of the APC.
    “By tomorrow, we will meet and be in a position to make a proper statement on what the future holds for the party in Edo State.”