Presidency finally backs Giadom, APC may witness structural upheavals

In a first in what is to come, President Muhammadu Buhari has backed the leadership of Chief Victor Giadom and endorsed the National Executive Committee (NEC) holding from the fortified Aso Rock Villa.
In fact, the strong man and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Buhari, plans to participate, according to his spokesman, Mr. Garba Shehu, who spoke to State House correspondents.
His words, “the President has received very convincing advice on the position of the law as far as the situation in the party is concerned and has determined that the law is on the side of Victor Giadom as Acting National Chairman. Because will always act in accordance with the law, the President will be attending the virtual meeting Giadom called for tomorrow afternoon.
“We urge the media to stop promoting manufactured controversies and to not give any further room for mischievous interpretations of the law on this matter.
“In addition to the President, the Giadom meeting will, hopefully, be attended by our Governors and the leaders of the National Assembly”.
Like where vultures gather when there is a carcass, a myriad of almost-forgotten groups within the embattled party are lining up behind Giadom.
One of such, styling itself representatives of founding members of the Legacy Parties, where it welcomed the Reconvened National Executive Committee with open arms, describing it as a saving grace and APC’s Doctrine of Necessity. Another is the Former Members of the House of Representatives APC Forum.
Nigeria Everyday reported earlier that an insider said that if the Villa did not disown the statement by day’s end, then the fate of the suspended National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, is sealed. “He is a goner, so also is Ize-Iyamu,” he said.
“You can be sure that those in the National Working Committee (NWC) despising that impostor will begin to call him pledging their loyalty”, adding “they will also be asking if they can attend the Villa meeting; he will be the new kid on the block”.
Many APC Governors, including the three who met with President Muhammadu Buhari: Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, Governor of Plateau, Simon Lalong and Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, are said to be involved in the plot to show Oshiomhole the door.
Also mentioned in this group are Governor Nasir el Rufai and as an observer put it, his “siamese twin, Minister Rotimi Amaechi”.
It was not clear if a former South-West Governor and Leader of the ruling party, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, has played or is still playing his card to thwart the Villa meeting. He is believed to be the strongest backer of Oshiomhole in the grand plots and machinations for 2023.
“2023 is such a big deal it will make or break the marriage that sent Jonathan packing in 2015”, the insider said.
“Meanwhile, we wait with bated breath”, he added.
The former House of Representatives APC Forum was unsparing. It said: “The irrepressible factional crisis in the Edo state chapter of the APC which has resulted in the suspension of the National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomole from the party, and the subsequent disqualification of Governor Godwin Obaseki from the Party Primary contest, has predictably snowballed into a leadership crisis at the national level.
“Undoubtedly, the APC is currently embroiled in an internal crisis of leadership tussle, and this has engendered fears among concerned party members nationwide about its possible disintegration if urgent and effective measures are not taken. The conflicts have tested the party’s grit and ability to manage intra-party squabbles and disputes. Many are of the view that the major factors responsible for the present turmoil in the party are leadership deficits and lack of respect for its own internal processes and constitution.”
The Legacy Parties group adds, “We appeal to all NEC members to attend or participate virtually as the case maybe for the collective interest of all and the survival of our great party.
“This crucial meeting is Doctrine of Necessity and the last hope of the recovery of the soul of APC; because we have complained bitterly, wailed and lamented helplessly as our great party is sliding dangerously from 24 State Governors in 2019 to God knows. And regrettably our sister political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was on its knees in 2019, is today the ultimate beneficiary. This is why PDP National Chairman, Hon Uche Secondous gloriously hailed our suspended Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as their oxygen supplier.
“For the avoidance of doubt, may we for emphases state once more that our rating of the Reconvened National Executive Committee meeting as Doctrine of Necessity is because NEC going by Article, 13.1 of APC’s Constitution is the Principal Executive Body of our party. This being the case, since politics is jaw-jaw, and negotiation is imperative for the resolution of any conflict, the meeting therefore presents a golden opportunity for us to resolve most of the intractable issues bedeviling our great party.
“We restate that this is a win-win meeting, let’s take the message and leave the messenger. This is more so when Mr President has graciously not only accented to the meeting, but provided seamless venue.
“We do not want to belabour our esteemed leaders with the truism that the deliberate ineffectiveness and utter redundancy NEC was rendered in the last two years contributed immensely to the sordid scenario we found ourselves. Is APC’s Constitution not our grundnorm? Is not a fact of law that if the NEC has met the issue of all manner of culture of impunity, arbitrary appointments, waivers and unratified party primary regulations could not have arisen? Time is of essence.
“Accordingly, we appeal that we utilise the golden opportunity provided by the Doctrine of Necessity to participate in the meeting without let or hinderance.”
Those who the statement are Saliu Mustapha, Polycap Udah, Capt Bala Jibrin, Ray Morphy, Umar Kachalla Zubair, Dr Slyvanus Amechi, Shaba Emangi, Emeka Enechi, Charles Idahosa, Mohammed Aboki Mahmud, Prince Maxkor Shaka Momodu and Yusuf Omobeni.