The crisis rocking All Progressives Congress (APC), got messier, yesterday as the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal stayed the execution of the ruling of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) suspension of Mr Adams Oshiomole.

It came even as a Federal Capital Territory High Court granted an interim order allowing Mr Victor Giadom, acting national secretary, leave to act as national chairman.

In a bench ruling delivered by a three-man panelof the appellate court led by Mr Abubakar Yahaya, yesterday, the court ordered a stay of execution of the FCT high court’s order.

A panel of the appellate court, which included Messers Joseph Oyewole and Muhammed Mustapha, consequently, restrained the respondents in the appeal from proceeding to act or take any further steps with regard to the ruling of the FCT high court. The court ruled that the order would remain binding pending the hearing of Oshiomhole’s motion for interlocutory injunction slated for Friday.

The panel also unanimously restrained the respondents, including Nigeria Police and Department of State Security, from further giving effect to the suspension order.

In his ruling, Yahaya said: “We have considered the application and looked closely at the exhibits attached and we agree that an emergency picture has been painted such that an intervention of the court is warranted.

“There is an information that a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party is fixed for Tuesday. If this happens, there is no chance that status quo would be maintained.

“In the circumstances, we find merit in this application and it is hereby granted. We hereby order the stay of execution of the ruling of the lower court made on March 4, 2020.

“As a corrolary, an injunction is hereby granted restraining the respondents, themselves, privies or agents from proceeding to give effect to the ruling of the lower court made on March 4, 2020, and from taking any further steps regarding the said ruling.

“We implore political parties to try to resolve there differences internally without always involving the court.”

Oshiomhole to chair NWC meeting Tuesday

Oshiomhole is expected to chair the enlarged National Working Committee (NWC) meeting as a confirmation that he has taken charge of the running of the party.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Lanre Issa-Onilu, in a statement in Abuja, said the meeting will hold at the party’s national secretariat by 12 noon.

“All members of NWC are expected to attend as important matters concerning the party will be considered and deliberated at the meeting.

“Recall that a Court of Appeal on Monday stayed the execution order of a High Court restraining the APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole from further acting in that capacity,” the statement read.

Buhari backs suspension of NEC meeting

Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Mr Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, has announced the indefinite postponement of Tuesday’s emergency NEC meeting.

He made the announcement after he led some governors of the APC to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.

Bagudu said Mr Buhari was pleased to endorse the suggestion to postpone the NEC meeting to enable them agree on issues affecting the party.

Messers Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Yahaya Bello of Kogi, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, and Mai Mala Buni of Yobe were absent at the meeting.

Another court approves Gaidom as acting national chair

A Federal Capital Territory high court, yesterday, granted an interim order allowing Victor Giadom, acting national secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), to act as the party’s national chairman.

Mr Samira Bature, a judge, gave the order following a motion ex parte filed by Mustapha Salihu, the party’s national vice chairman, north-east.

Salihu had sought an interim order allowing Giadom to act as national chairman and preside over meetings of the party’s national executive committee (NEC) pending the decision of the party’s NEC.

He also sought an order restraining the APC and its officers or anyone from preventing Giadom from functioning as the acting chairman pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

The judge granted all the prayers sought by the applicant and adjourned the matter to March 20.

We’ll obey Buhari’s intervention 

But Giadom has said they would honour the intervention of President Buhari in postponing the proposed NEC meeting scheduled for Tuesday.

Speaking to newsmen after the decision between APC governors and Buhari, Giadom said: “The NEC meeting has been postponed indefinitely. At the appropriately time, the public and members of the NEC will be informed on the new date but, as of today, we are in agreement with the President that the NEC meeting has been postponed,” he said.

On whether he was still in charge with the latest ruling from the Appeal Court for the suspension of Oshiomhole, he replied: “I have not been served yet, I am talking to you as the acting national secretary.”

 

Sun