By Fola James
Can a man in coma perform the functions of the national chairman of a political party?
That is the big poser for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC which few hours ago named Abiola Ajimobi, a former governor of Oyo state as its acting National Chairman following the sack of Adams Oshiomhole by the court of appeal.
Thus few immediately after the ruling, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state, who has been embattled with the APC strongman, has made a u-turn from joining the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The court, yesterday affirmed the decision of the lower court which had earlier stripped the controversial former Edo state governor of his coveted position.
The APC National Working Committee, NWC, had immediately after the judgment appointed the former Oyo helmsman, currently undergoing treatment in a Lagos hospital, after contracting the corona virus, to replace Oshiomhole.
In a statements signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu in Abuja, the party said it was shocked by the development and that the decision to appoint Ajimobi in acting capacity is in line with the APC constitution.
The Party, the statement said is shocked with “the news indicating the Appeal Court has upheld the suspension of the Party’s National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole by an FCT High Court pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Guided by advice from the Party’s legal department in line with the provisions of Section 14.2. (iii) of the Party’s constitution, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, will serve as the Party’s Acting National Chairman.
According to Section 14.2. (iii),of the APC constitution, the Deputy National Chairman, North/South “Shall act as the National Chairman in the absence of the National Chairman from his zone”.
Meanwhile, Governor Obaseki said he has not joined any political party.
Obaseki was disqualification by the Screening committee set up by APC to screen its governorship aspirants last week.
Following his disqualification, the governor picked up a membership card of the PDP fuelling suggestion that he was planning to run under the party.
He also met with some leaders of the party, including governors of two oil rich states.
