APC Boils As Moves To Reconcile Oshiomhole, Obaseki Begins

APC National Working Committee met on Wednesday and endorsed Ojezua’s suspension.

Governor Godwin Obaseki and APC National chairman, Adams Oshiomhole

The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu, said it arrived at the decision after receiving a notification of the suspension of Ojezua by 11 of the 16 members of the Edo State Working Committee.

“We have reviewed the process they followed and conclude that they have fulfilled the required conditions.

“We therefore uphold the suspension of the Edo State APC Chairman, Anslem Ojezua while we await the outcome of the fact-finding and reconciliation committee.

“Please note that the NWC’s objective and cause of action is strictly to address the root causes of the disputations and reconcile all parties to make our great party even stronger,” the statement said.

But the Deputy National Chairman (North) of the APC, Senator Lawal Shuaibu, and the embattled National Vice-Chairman (North West), Inuwa Abdulkadir, said they foresaw the current upheaval facing Oshiomhole.

Both men spoke to The PUNCH in separate interviews in Abuja, on Wednesday.

Shuaibu said, “What I predicted when I wrote him my letter is coming to pass. What is left is for leaders of our party to come together and salvage the party which the current national chairman is working very hard to destroy.”

But on Wednesday, the Edo Peoples Movement, a faction of the APC in Edo State, announced the suspension of Obaseki; his deputy, Philip Shaibu and the Secretary to the state Government, Ogie Osarodion.

A member of the state House of Assembly, Patrick Ikahriale, announced the suspension during a press conference at the residence of Gen Charles Airhiavbere in Benin.

He stated, “Governor Obaseki, his deputy, Phillip Shuaibu; Chairman, Anslem Ojezua, and Osarodion Ogie (SSG) from available information from top leaders of the PDP have concluded plans to defect from the APC and seek re-election on that platform.

“Consequently, we hereby suspend Governor Godwin Obaseki, Phillip Shuaibu and Osarodion Ogie from the party for anti-party activities and urge the National Working Committee to set the machinery in motion for further disciplinary action against them.”