Oshiomhole doesn’t want to return as APC chairman, says aide

August 12, 2021 10:27 am

Victor Oshioke, an aide to Adams Oshiomhole, former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says his principal is not planning to lead the ruling party again.

Oshioke said this in reaction to the report that the former governor of Edo state is making a comeback as the APC national chairman.

The APC national working committee (NWC) led by Oshiomhole was dissolved by the party’s national executive committee (NEC) in June 2020 following a protracted leadership crisis.

NEC appointed Mai Mala Buni, Yobe governor, to lead a caretaker committee of the party.

In a statement on Wednesday, Oshioke described the report as a “nonsensical suggestion”.

“Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), who is now a member of the APC and self-styled aide of Minister of Transportation, Chief Rotimi Amaechi,” he said.

“In the said statement widely reported in the media, Chief Eze was quoted as saying that Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), Hon. Minister of State for Labour and Employment, and others were plotting to bring back Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as national chairman of the APC.

“Ordinarily we would have ignored this nonsensical suggestion. However, it is pertinent to set the records straight and put to rest this ridiculous falsehood being marketed by Eze Chukwuemeka Eze.

“Keyamo also offered legal advice on the legality of the NEC that was convened for the dissolution of the Oshiomhole led National Working Committee of APC and emergence of the Governor Mai-Mala Buni led Caretaker Committee.

“It is therefore frivolous for any right-thinking person to assume that Mr. Keyamo who actively supported the removal of the National chairman elected by over 6, 500 party delegates from across the 36 states and the FCT, because 8 out of 27 Ward executive members purportedly suspended a national party chairman, would now plot to bring the same Oshiomhole back to the office.”