APC NWC Disowns Gaidom, Affirms Ajimobi As Acting National Chairman, Reverses Nullification Of Primary Screening Exercise

By Edna Wande Last updated Jun 17, 2020

Former governor of Oyo, Abiola Ajimobi as acting APC National Chairman

In a new twist of drama going on in the All Progressives Congress, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) has disowned Victor Giadom as member of the committee and confirmed Abiola Ajimobi as Acting National Chairman.

MDB had earlier reported that Giadom declared himself as the Acting APC chairman, stating that he took over based on a previous court order and the backing of the members of the National Working Committee (NWC).

However, NWC has now disowned Victor Giadom, insisting that his membership of the NWC ceased when he resigned to contest the Deputy Governorship position in Rivers State.

During the announcement which took place at the party’s secretariat in Abuja by NWC, APC National Vice-Chairman (South-South), Hilliard Eta, was also mandated to act in the stead of Abiola Ajimobi, who is currently indisposed.

Ajimobi is currently hospitalized in First Cardiology Consultants Hospital, Ikoyi, Lagos after contracting the coronavirus disease over two weeks ago.

Due to his current incapacity, the party announced on Wednesday, that Eta will act on his behalf, a decision that was made during a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC).

The party said;

Due to Sen. Ajimobi’s unavoidable absence, NWC unanimously appointed the Party’s National Vice Chairman (South South), Prince Hilliard Etta to act on Sen. Ajimobi’s behalf, an action backed by the Party’s constitution which empowers the NWC to appoint one of its members in acting capacity and stipulates that the acting National chairman must be from the zone of the National Chairman.

Eta has now reversed nullification of the disqualification of Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo state.

Last week, Obaseki was disqualified from contesting in the governorship primary election of the party for Edo over ‘defective certificate’, which lead him to resign from the party alongside his deputy and other members loyal to him.

However, Gaidom after declaring himself APC chairman, nullified the screening exercise.

In the twist of event, Eta speaking with journalists at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, flanked by some NWC members, said Gaidom does not have the power to nullify the party’s screening exercise.

He stated;

It is said that Chief Victor Gaidom annulled the screening of Edo state governorship aspirants. Even a properly elected chairman that is currently on suspension cannot on his own make such decision.

Chief Victor Gaidom has long ceased to be a member of the NWC. He has voluntarily resigned his membership to be able to contest as deputy governorship candidate of our party.

Eta added;

And, at no time, I supretend over the south-south, and at no time did I present Gaidom again to come to the NWC. You can check all the records and you will see that this is the fact. I am very sure that if Chief Victor Gaidom had been a young man he would have enrolled into the military and conducted a coupe and become a military administrator or a sole administrator of whatever but not in the party of change or progress that we are in.