A Federal High Court in Abuja has renewed the order empowering Chief Victor Giadom to act as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for two weeks.
The court also empowered Comrade Mustapha Salihu, the APC National Vice Chairman (North East) to act as the National Secretary.
However, with the controversy in APC about appointment of a National Chairman, it appears the party may be unable to choose any candidate in the September 19 governorship election in Edo State.
Chief Victor Giadom had on Wednesday, that he was the authentic Acting National Chairman of the APC, following a ruling of the Federal Capital Teritory High Court.
Giadom who is the party’s Deputy National Secretary said he was the highest ranking official following the ruling of the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, which upheld Oshiomhole’s suspension and declared all his actions since his suspension, null and void.
This was however countered, as APC National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Isa-Onilu, announced ailing Senator Abiola Ajimobi as the Acting National Chairman, being the Deputy National Chairman (South).
In a counter reaction, Giadom, who spoke through his counsel, Wole Afolabi, said consequent upon an order of the FCT High Court issued on March 16, 2020, by Hon. Justice S.U Bature in Suit No. FCT/HC/M/6447/202, “Chief Victor Giadom is to act as the National Chairman.”
A statement issued by his lawyer, Wole Afolabi, reads:
COURT RECOGNIZES VICTOR GIADOM AS ACTING NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF APC
Our attention has been drawn to a Statement purportedly issued by the Publicity Secretary of the APC to the effect that Senator Abiola Ajumobi is to act as the National Chairman of APC following the suspension from office of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole by the Court of Appeal.
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.
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. 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.
Consequently, we 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.
The said order has now been extended by the court for two weeks.
