Malik Yahya/
The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken another turn after the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) disowned the acting deputy national secretary, Victor Giadom, who had earlier declared himself acting national chairman, and declared former Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi as the authentic acting national chairman.
Ajimobi was named after an Appeal Court upheld the suspension of the APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomole, yesterday.
The national vice-chairman (South-South), Hilliard Eta, was however appointed to act as the national chairman in line with the party’s constitution due to what was described as Ajimobi’s “unavoidable absence”.
At a press briefing that followed an emergency meeting of the NWC in Abuja today, the party insisted that Giadom’s membership of the NWC ceased from the time he resigned to contest the deputy governorship position in Rivers State.
Eta, who addressed the media during the briefing, said preparations for the Edo Governorship primary was firmly on course.
He said an earlier announcement by Giadom, cancelling the disqualification of the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, was “strange” because he, Giadom, lacked the grounds on which to take such a decision.
Eta said, “As the person in charge of the South South, we have no record that Giadom returned after the election.”
He further explained that the lot fell on him to address the media because the acting national chairman, Abiola Ajimobi was unavailable.
Eta said, according to the APC constitution, when the party chairman from a particular zone is unavailable, the deputy national chairman from the zone acts.
“In the absence of the deputy national chairman, the national vice chairman from the zone where the substantive chairman hails from steps in,” he further states.
Eta thereafter announced a seven-member election committee to conduct the June 22 Edo State APC Governorship primary.
He said Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, will serve as chairman, while Senator Ajibola Basiru, will serve as secretary.
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