By Sam Tor
Following the upheld of the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the Appeal Court pending the determination of the substantive suit, the party is thrown into crisis who to act.
While the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party said it is guided by advice from its 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 Acting National Chairman, a statement by Chief Wole Afolabi, Counsel to the Plaintiff in the suit said his client, Chief Victor Giadom is to act as the National Chairman of the party.
A statement by Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu,
National Publicity Secretary of the party had announced Ajimobi as acting chairman.
The statement said 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”.
But, according to Chief Afolabi, “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.
It noted that 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.
He said 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.
The statement said consequently, they have written to all law-enforcement agencies to implement the said order and any one 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.
