The controversy surrounding the Chairmanship of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has deepened as two persons have laid claim to the position following the Appeal Court’s decision that upheld the suspension of Mr Adams Oshiomhole.
Following the decision, the party’s National Working Committee affirmed former Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, as the acting National Chairman on Tuesday.
But due to Ajimobi’s unavoidable absence, the NWC on Wednesday, appointed the National Vice Chairman, South-South, Hilliard Etta, to act on his behalf.
On the other hand, the APC Deputy National Secretary, Mr Victor Giadom, also declared himself as the acting National Chairman, on the strength of a Federal Capital Territory High Court order obtained on March 16.
Meanwhile, a legal document has surfaced, from a group in the South-West, claiming that the position of the Deputy National Chairman, South of the APC is still vacant and that the party’s acting National Chairman, Abiola Ajimobi, is not eligible to occupy the seat.
The group’s lawyer, Babatunde Oke, stated that the suit was instituted at the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti on February 12, 2020, against the APC National Working Committee and Ajimobi asking the court, among other things, to fill up the position in line with the party’s constitution.
The statement explained that at the time it was instituted, Senator Ajimobi’s name had not been purportedly recognised, but he was later announced as the Deputy National Chairman, South of the party.
It added that Ajimobi’s lawyer had also denied his appointment in court on March 23, as the court warned that all parties desist from changing the status quo on the suit.
The group insists that Senator Ajimobi is not recognised as the substantive Deputy National Chairman, South of the APC and can, therefore, not act as the party’s National Chairman.
Consequently, they asked the National Working Committee to take note of the suit and desist from committing contempt of court.