As the controversy over the status of the embattled Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole rages on, feelers have emerged that the governors in the party are already shopping for his replacement.
The Federal High Court, Jabi in Abuja on Wednesday, March 4 suspended Oshiomhole over claims that his ward in Edo State had suspended him, though Federal High Court in Kano on Thursday quashed the judgment.
Governors’ Mandate exclusively gathered that most of the governors are seriously looking in the direction of picking one of the three former governors from the South-South, the region to which the chairmanship of the party is currently zoned.
According to sources, Chief Clement Ebri, a former governor of Cross-River state who also aspired for the exalted position and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, a former governor of Delta State who joined the APC in the last dispensation are being considered.
Also shortlisted is a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio. Mr. Akpabio is currently the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
Another source, however, said the power brokers in the presidency are looking in the way of Chief Don Etiebet, a former Petroleum Minister and one-time chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). Etiebet was ANPP National Chairman when President Muhammadu Buhari first ran for the presidency in 2003.
The source further disclosed that an emergency NEC meeting of the party may soon be convened to ratify the choice of the party hierarchy.
Meanwhile, an emergency National Executive committee (NEC) meeting of All Progressives Congress holds on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, at 3 p.m. at the National Executive Council APC Hall, 40 Blantyre Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.