APC: Obaseki, Governors Plot Oshionhole’s Fall

Akpabio, Sylva, Others Shortlisted

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state was among the All Progressives Congress, APC state governors that had a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari last week with a view to resolve ongoing crisis rocking the party.

The meeting came amidst serious plot to remove Adams Oshiomhole as the National Chairman of the ruling APC

Edo state governorship election is slated for next year and plans, sources say, are in the offing to deny Obaseki the party’s ticket to run for a second term.

The APC National chairman is said to be leading the onslaught against his ex-ally.

The meeting which was held in Aso Rock, Nigeria’s seat of power and lasted up to one hour, sources told the magazine, was at the instance of the governors to enlist the support of the president in their quest to shop for another National Chairman of the party.

Governor Atiku Bagugu of Kebbi state led the delegation to the president.

Some state governors and party chieftains, have in recent weeks ramp up the plot against their chairman.

The aggrieved party officials are strongly opposed to Oshiomhole’s style of leadership and seemed poised to topple the Edo state born politician and former President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC from his esteemed seat.

The party’s deputy chairman, Senator Lawal Shuaibu recently demanded Oshiomhole’s resignation.

In a letter he wrote on May 27, titled “APC: Its fortunes versus misfortunes, time to act” Shuaibu passed a vote of no confidence on his boss, for plunging the party into crisis.

Stressing that the party is falling apart under the current leadership, Shuaibu said “I sincerely believe with all my heart” that APC is heading for collapse under Oshiomhole.

The internal crisis rocking the ruling party is not unconnected with the manner it conducted primaries before the generation election held earlier this year.

As at last week, the magazine was told by sources at the party’s headquarters in Abuja, that the party has shortlisted some notable politicians from the South-south to replace the former governor.

“We are looking towards Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom state,” a chieftain of the party told the magazine last Friday, in answer to the rumor that two former governors from the south-south are being considered to replace Oshiomhole who became chairman barely a year ago.

Forner Governors Godswill Akpabio and Timipre Sylva have been mentioned among possible candidates to replace Oshiomhole.

Governor Obaseki is currently in a running battle with his predecessor over the control of the party in the state.

The former political allies have also openly disagreed on how the affairs of the state should be run.

Also recall that Chief Odigie Oyegun, a former chairman of the party, last week, criticized his successor for distracting Governor Obaseki.

Oyegun, a former governor of the state has also disagreed with Oshionhole, on how he runs the affairs of the party.

There was a twist to the battle of wits between the governor and his godfather, last week, after lawmakers loyal to the governor took over the control of the state’s house of assembly.

Nine out of the 24 lawmakers in the assembly had elected a speaker immediately after they were sworn in by the Clerk of the Assembly.

A day after the incident, Seidu Oshiomhole, brother to the APC chairman and 14 other lawmakers were attacked in a hotel, in the state by hoodlums believed to be supporters of the governor.

Some APC governors, including chieftains of the party are said to be tired of the jackboot approach of the National chairman in running of the affairs of the party.

“We went to see the president on wide range of issues, particularly on the state of insecurity across the country,” one governor from the Northern part of the country told the magazine.

On whether the governors had a discussion with President Buhari over the crisis rocking the ruling party, the governor said” we discussed so many issues including that of our great party, with the president who is the leader of our party.”