Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: Victor Giadom

  • Breaking: Giadom hands over to APC caretaker committee chairman, Buni

    Breaking: Giadom hands over to APC caretaker committee chairman, Buni

    Idowu Sowunmi

    The former Acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Victor Giadom, on Monday handed over to the Chairman of the party’s Caretaker / Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni.

    The handing over ceremony was held behind closed doors at the National Working Committee conference room at the APC National Secretariat, Abuja.

    Giadom assured members of the committee of his readiness to support and partner with the team towards the realisation of the party’s goals.

    “I, Chief Hon Victor Giadom, the outgoing Acting National Chairman, today Monday 29th of June 2020 hands over to the Chairman and members of the National Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress.

    “I assure the Committee of my readiness to partner with them to achieve the Party’s goals and objectives towards a successful National Convention. I pray that the almighty God grants you wisdom to pilot the affairs of the Party,” he said.

    Commenting on developments which led to him handing over to the caretaker committee, he said, “I feel extremely grateful to God and also extremely grateful to the leadership of our own party especially Mr. President, Commander-in-Chief, Muhammadu Buhari, and the entire leadership of the National Executive Committee for rescuing this party from what would have befallen the party.

    “Today, our party has been repositioned to greater heights and I can assure you that with the calibre of people so selected by NEC of our great party to pilot the leadership of our party into the National Convention, I am indeed grateful rest assured that our party will emerge stronger.”

    The PUNCH had earlier reported that Buni assured members of the party of reforms after the oath of office was administered on members of the 13-member committee at the APC National Secretariat.

    “It is time for this committee, therefore, to commence the process of true reconciliation among leaders and members of the party at all levels. It is our belief that the decision by NEC to constitute this committee will mark the beginning of a new chapter in our great Party,” he said.

    With the ceremony today, Hon Victor Giodiom has become the third national chairman of APC with his tenure from March 4 to June 25, 2020. He has also become a permanent member of APC NEC.

  • 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.

  • Just in…Buhari Recognises Giadom as Acting National Chairman of APC

    Just in…Buhari Recognises Giadom as Acting National Chairman of APC

    Idowu Sowunmi

    President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday recognised Victor Giadom as Acting National Chairman, saying he has received very convincing advice on the position of the law as far as the situation in the party is concerned.

    “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 the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in response to enquiry by some journalists.

    More to follow…

  • APC: Crisis looms as Giadom unseats Ajimobi, annuls Obaseki’s disqualification amidst heightened security

    APC: Crisis looms as Giadom unseats Ajimobi, annuls Obaseki’s disqualification amidst heightened security

    The political crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is now intense as the erstwhile Acting National Secretary, Chief Victor Giadom has declared himself Acting National Chairman on the premise of a subsisting court order issued on March 16, 2020.

    Giadom, who arrived the national secretariat of the party in Abuja as early as 9.00 am and headed into the office to take over in acting capacity, in a media address declared the appointment of Senator Abiola Ajimobi as Acting national Chairman illegal and unconstitutional.

    https://i1.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2020/06/IMG_20200617_105007_277-scaled.jpg?w=1208
    Erstwhile Acting National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Victor Giadom

    While declaring that Ex-Governor Ajimobi’s appointment cannot stand, Giadom referred to the order by Justice S.U Bature in suit no FCT /HC/M/6447/2020  as the basis for taking over as Acting Chairman of the APC.

    “That order could not be immediately effected at that time because of the temporary reprieve Adams Oshiomhole got from the court of appeal on the same day.

    “However, having removed the temporary reprieve yesterday (Tuesday) by the court of appeal and considering the fact that we cannot allow for a vacuum, I most humbly inform you that I have assumed office as Acting national chairman of our great party in compliance with the order of the court”, Giadom argued.

    In a move that is rather swift, Giadom shocked political observers when he announced the reversal of Edo governorship election screening masterminded by the sacked Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

    Giadom, declared as null and void, the disqualification of Governor Godwin Obaseki from contesting in the Edo state governorship primaries.

    Furthermore, Giadom, who disclosed that he has the support of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) directed governorship aspirants of the party in Edo state to report to the national secretariat of the party in Abuja between today and tomorrow to come for a fresh screening exercise in line with the party constitution.

    Similarly, Giadom declared that Emmanuel Ibediro ceases to be the national organising secretary of the party in line with an Abuja court order FHC/ABJ/CS/733//2018, and ordered the Deputy National Organising Secretary, Muhammed Sani Ibrahim to assume his position.

    Meanwhile, since the sack of Adams Oshiomhole yesterday (Tuesday), it was anticipated that the APC National Secretariat had potentially become a battleground. In order to forestall the breakdown of law and order, security operatives in the early hours of Wednesday proactively took over and were strategically positioned inside and outside the APC secretariat.

    The security agents, who arrived the party headquarters on two Hilux Patrol vehicles, stopped the journalists covering the party from gaining entrance into the complex.

    Interestingly, the suspended chairman, Oshiomhole, who has been in a long-drawn battle with his successor, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, seems to have respected the court ruling as he stayed out the secretariat.

    However, there was mild celebration among secretariat staff who gathered in groups discussing the removal of former national Chairman, Oshiomhole.

    In a related development, the party’s National Vice-Chairman (North), Salihu Mustapha, also ordered security agents not to entertain any media briefing from the opposition camp.