By Akombo Aondona, Abuja
The ongoing attempt by sacked former National Chairman of the ruling APC, Adams Oshiomhole to re-launch himself back into political reckoning is being imperiled by his decision to insert himself into the intrigues surrounding the presidential ticket of the APC on the side of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, sources have told The Dream Daily.
Consequently, a group of APC faithful from his home state of Edo, Concerned Afemai APC, on Friday, 20th May 2022 laid a surfeit of allegations against Oshiomhole at the National Headquarters of the APC where they staged a protest on the matter.
Essentially, the group alleged that Oshiomhole is unqualified to participate in any APC activities towards 2023 as his membership status in the APC is illegal before the law, a situation which the group said puts the APC at risk of losing out at the courts if the party allowed Oshiomhole to participate in its primaries.
Secretary of the Afemai APC group, Ojo Evbouan, who spoke extensively with the media during the protest, said: “We wish to draw the attention of our party to the serial controversies vis-a-vis legal burden hanging on Adams Aliu Oshiomhole, especially relating to his non-eligibility to participate in the ongoing APC Nomination Exercise for the 2023 general election.
“This is based on a subsisting indictment in May 14th 2020, by Justice James Oyomire (rtd) Judicial Commission of Inquiry Report which indicted Adams Aliu Oshiomhole on the gross breach of the Edo State Public Procurement Law in the N1.4 billion Supply and Installations of medical Equipment by VAMED Engineering Nigeria Limited (January 4th 2015).
“It is a dent on the credibility of Adams Aliu Oshiomhole if he has not disclosed his aforesaid indictment in his 2022 APC Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms. Any such non-disclosure by Adams Oshiomole will be contrary Article 7(iv) and 21.2(v) of the APC Constitution.”
Evbouan continued: “The authenticity of Oshiomhole membership status after his suspension remains an unsettled fundamental issue. We recall that as at August 24, 2021 Justice D.Z. Senchi of an Abuja High Court sitting at Jabi, ruled that: ‘Pursuant to the Motion on Notice, No. FCT/HC/M/8148/2020, dated and filed on 1/7/2020 discontinuing this suit at the instance of the Plaintiffs/Applicants and the Defendants/Respondents not opposing the application for discontinuance, the application is hereby granted and suit is dismissed. Parties to bear their respective cost, if any.’
“It was a suit filed by Comrade Mustapha Saliu, Oshawo Steven and four others over the purported suspension of the former APC National Chairman by his ward 10 APC Executives, Etsako West L.G.A.
“An Abuja High Court had earlier asked Oshiomhole to step aside as National Chairman of the APC pending the determination of the substantive suit. The Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the Lower Court, and Oshiomhole stepped aside.
The Plaintiffs were expected to return to the Lower Court to commence the hearing of the substantive suit, instead they filed an application seeking a withdrawal of the substantive suit – probably after a political mediation.
“Although on June 20th, 2020 the suspension letter was purported lifted by 17 wards executives but if the case was withdrawn from court that does not validate the membership status of Oshiomhole. If the suspension was lifted, did it duly comply with Section 21C(I & v) of the APC Constitution.”
Evbouan queried the legal correctness of Oshiomhole picking up both a presidential and senatorial nominations forms of the APC towards 2023.
He stated: “The validity of individuals picking dual nomination forms within the same nomination process of a political party is a controversial political habit that is exposed to legal challenge anytime. Consequently, Oshiomhole’s dual aspiration for Presidency and Senate within the APC 2023 nomination process is a disregard for internal democracy, APC constitution, INEC guidelines, Electoral Act sections 30,35,115d, 115k and the 1999 Constitution.
“The precarious opposition status of APC in Edo state, wherein the ruling PDP under a draconic Governor Godwin Obaseki may lay ambush on the electoral prospects of APC if Adams Oshiomhole is considered for nomination. We therefore advise the APC Appeal Screening Committee to curtail avoidable technical losses of APC in Edo-North, which remains the only APC stronghold in Edo state. The Appeal Committee should review and step down Adams Aliu Oshiomhole from the ongoing 2023 APC nomination process.”
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