APC in overdrive as Court sacks Oshiomhole…for now

By Yemi Oyeyemi, Abuja
There has been a rash of meetings in the ruling party after embattled National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, was sent temporarily packing from his exalted by a court in Abuja.
He is to stay suspended until a case before the court is determined.
A rash of meetings and activities are on as efforts are on sustain the order or reverse it, depending on the divide in the party within its national secretariat and outside it.
In the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), there has been muffled celebrations, while in far away Edo, it is party time in the Government House in Benin after news of the court decision filtered in.
But knowledgeable sources claim the embarrassing development could not have taken place with the say-so of the powers that be. None, including a national official was willing to be quoted for now.
Others said the decision would not stand the test of time, debunking suggestions of high federal government office been involved.
But one of the combatants opposed to Oshiomhole told journalists in Abuja that the National Secretary, Mr.Waziri Bulama, cannot act in the stead of the suspended Chairman, since his own position is also tenuous and a subject of disagreement within the party.
The National Vice Chairman, Northeast of the party, Comrade Mustapha Salihu said in Abuja on plans to get Bulama to act: ” I believe you are aware of the meeting held about a month ago on that matter, which ended without a decision. Since then, there has not been a decision as to the replacement of the secretary. The chairman is about to create more chaos within the party as he gave the order.
“The public should know that any decision that Oshiomhole makes henceforth is an illegal decision and will not hold.
“We will keep our fingers crossed until the court decides. I am saying this so that there will not be two national secretaries and there can be no affirmation from a national chairman that has been suspended.”
Salifu is part of a bloc opposed to Bulama being Secretary.
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Jabi District of Abuja on Wednesday ordered the suspension of the Oshiomhole.
Justice Danlami Senchi, gave the order following an application of interlocutory injunction asking the court to suspend Oshiomhole, having being suspended as a member of the APC from his Etsako ward 10 in Edo State.
The application was filed by Mustapha Salihu and five others through their counsel Oluwole Afolabi.
While Oshiomhole is the first respondent, the APC is the second respondent .
The plaintiffs in their application dated and filed on January 16 had contended that Oshiomhole is currently suspended by the party and has not challenged the suspension.
According to the plaintiff lawyer, Oshiomhole’s rights as an APC member is currently abated and cannot continue to act as chairman of the party.
He argued that Oshiomhole cannot continue to enjoy benefits from the APC in view of his suspendion as a member of the party.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN), Damian Dodo is the lawyer representing Oshiomhole and the APC.
In his ruling on Wednesday, Justice Senchi, held that the first and second respondent wrongfully kept Oshiomhole as the National Chairman of the party.
The court also ordered that Oshiomole should stop parading himself as the Chairman of the party.
The judge also asked the APC to desist from acknowledging him as the chairman of the party
The court further ordered APC not to grant Oshiomole access to the party Secretariat.
Justice Danlami Senchi said that political parties must be bound by their constitution adding that since Oshiomhole had been evidently suspended by his ward and the suspension not challenged, he has no business any longer parading himself as national chairman of the party.
Meanwhile, hearing in the substantive matter has been adjourned to April 7 and 8 by the Judge.