APC Leadership: How Oshiomhole’s own documents finally cleared Victor Giadom as Acting National Chairman

By Kemi Kasumu

“By the decision of the (NWC) to grant your request for waiver, you can continue to discharge your official duties as Deputy National Secretary while pursuing your political/campaign activities,” Oshiomhole, as APC National Chairman, told Giadom in a letter approved by NWC.

There are more troubles hovering atop the roof of Adams Oshiomhole’s house as many of the claims he made against Chief Victor Giadom are now found to be lies.

From a Channel Television interview monitored in Lagos and reported Thursday by The DEFENDER, Oshiomhole said the APC chieftain had since resigned his appointment from position of Deputy National Secretary, when he wanted to justify why decision of National Working Committee (NWC) of All Progressives Congress (APC) not to recognise court order installing him as Acting National Chairman.

But in our curiosity, we stumbled over letters which emanated from the National Secretariat of the party. One of the letters, dated 14th September 2018 particularly acknowledging and granting Giadom’s request for waiver, was personally signed by Adams Oshiomhole, himself, as Chairman of the party.

According to the letter, Oshiomhole said: “By the decision of the (NWC) to grant your request for waiver, you can continue to discharge your official duties as Deputy National Secretary while pursuing your political/campaign activities,” Oshiomhole, as APC National Chairman, told Giadom in a letter approved by NWC.

The Giadom’s requested waiver, according to the letter signed by Oshiomhole, was to enable him go and contest for election in his state and, if unsuccessful, return back to his position as Deputy National Secretary. Oshiomhole gladly conveyed in the letter the approval of the request for waiver and he clearly stated in the first paragraph of the letter how asking for such waiver is in tandem with provisions under Article 31 of the APC’s Constitution.

The second letter date 24th May 2019 with Ref. APC/NHDO/NWC/17/019/004 was signed by Director of Administration at the APC National Secretariat, Abdullahi Yusuf Gashu’a and it conveyed to Giadom “the resolution of the National Working Committee reached at its 37th regular meeting of 24 May 2019 accepting” his “request to resume office following the conclusion of the general Election which you were granted waiver to contest as Governorship running mate for Rivers State.

“The NWC has also approved your resumption as the National Secretary in Acting Capacity in line with Article 14.4 of the Constitution of our great Party pending the election of substantive National Secretary,” the NWC said in the letter to Chief Victor Giadom.

It will be recalled that Oshiomhole said on Channels Television Politics Today Wednesday night that Giadom had since resigned from his position as Deputy National Secretary and that he was neither represented nor renominated by his his ward till date.

“And I’m shocked that Victor can claim, as a deputy national secretary whose position is even in contest having resigned from the office and he has not been represented or renominated back, because you don’t just walk out of your job, you resigned, we accepted your resignation you return back,” Oshiomhole said on a television network that was viewed in Nigeria and internationally.

Indicatively, the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole by the Abuja High Court and Court of Appeal shows that Oshiomhole ceases to be member and national chairman of APC.

But in the television interview where he said he was waiting on the legal advice of his lawyers, he not only said he remained a member of APC but also, he still insisted that the decision of NWC under him between March 16 until his suspension was upheld Tuesday June 16, which the Court of Appeal declared as null and void, remains unchanged.

Comrades Adams Oshiomhole, who insisted that APC business will be transacted based on the Constitution of the party, also said until 7pm on Tuesday when the Court of Appeal upheld his “alleged” suspension by his Ward, “I remained the Chairman of APC and and before then, Governor of Edo State had voluntarily resigned his membership of our party and that letter has since been accepted.”

The Obaseki’s resignation letter, copy of which was sighted by The DEFENDER, was addressed to the Ward chairman and not national Secretariat as insinuated by Oshiomhole.

He however, commenting on Edo primary election, insisted that “Screening has been completed and all that was left was done today membrs if the NEC,” he said although he was aware of the decision of the Court of Appeal which voided the screening process.

This per adventure is reason many watchers of events are expressing fears that Edo State may end up having no candidate due to what they call the illegalities and attitude of selecting what court order the leaders of APC should obey and which court order it will not obey.

On TVC Journalists’ Hangout Thursday, the only one of the gladiators brought in set was National Vice Chairman of the party, Chief Helliat Etta who dodged to answering the question bothering on what the NWC would do to void the court order that installed Chief Victor Giadom Acting National Chairman.

He was only particular about how how Hope Uzodinma, Governor of Imo State and other primary election committees members were inaugurated whereas, the Court of Appeal judgement was clear, that actions of Oshiomhole between March 16 and June 16 become null and void.

Copies of all letters involved are attached below: