By Akanimo Sampson
The leadership crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a turn for the worse as an Emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting summoned by the Deputy National Secretary of the party compounds the party’s problems.
Some of the APC governors, among them, Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); Babagana Zulum (Borno); Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun), Babajide-Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), are said to be plotting to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari this week in a bid to save Adams Oshiomhole from the political forces after him.
The development is coming after Thursday’s court order, Kayode Fayemi, Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum; Atiku Bagudu, Chairman of Progressives Governors Forum, and Governor Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa State meeting with President Buhari.
The pro-Oshiomhole governors will be in Aso Rock to brief President Buhari on their own side of issues rocking the leadership of the ruling party.
Sources within Aso Rock say Buhari is worried over the development and its possible backlash. To avert that, he wants to nib the rift in the bud.
Accordingly, he has silently constituted a three-man panel to wade into the matter with a view to thrashing out all issues generating the crisis in the party.
On his part, Adams Oshiomhole is taking the necessary steps to retain his position. But, some of the APC governors and party stalwarts say they can’t continue to tolerate what they described as “Oshiomhole’s overbearing and knows it all attitude.”
In the meantime, Victor Giadom, Deputy National Secretary, has summoned a controversial Emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) billed for Wednesday, March 17.
Giadom, a political associate of Transportation Minister, Chibuike Amaechi, is suspected to be acting for some governors who are moving against Oshiomhole.
But, Waziri Bulama, APC Acting National Secretary; Babatunde Ogala, National Legal Adviser; and Lanre Issa-Onilu, National Publicity Secretary, in a joint statement, are questioning the legality of the proposed NEC.
Article 25 (B) (i) and (ii) of the party’s constitution provides that the NEC shall meet every quarter and or at any time decided by the National Chairman or at the request made in writing by at least two-thirds of the members of the NEC provided that not less than fourteen (14) days notice is given for the meeting to be summoned.
Without prejudice to Article 25(B)(i) of the constitution, the National Working Committee may summon an emergency National Executive Committee meeting at any time, provided that at least seven (7) days notice of the meeting shall be given to all those entitled to attend.
The pro-Oshiomhole forces in the National Working Committee are claiming that neither their principal nor a resolution of two-thirds of the members of the National Executive Committee has directed nor made any request to summon an NEC meeting of the party.
‘’As a Deputy National Secretary of the party, Victor Giadom is not vested with any constitutional powers to convene any meeting of the NEC. Neither has he been so directed by the National Chairman,’’ says the pro-Oshiomhole forces.
