NewsNigeriaPoliticsAPC Crisis: Oshiomhole Fights Back, Appoints New National Officers

In a swift move by the embattled chairman, he has approved the appointment of new national officers to fill long existing vacancies at the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party.

According to a statement signed by the national publicity secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Isa Onilu and made available to journalists late Wednesday evening, the suspended national chairman claimed that the decision to fill the vacancies with the new appointees was reached at an NWC meeting held on January 14, 2020.

The newly approved national officers include; Arch. Waziri Bulama, North East, National Secretary, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, South West – Deputy National Chairman (South ) and Mr. Paul Chukwuma , South East as National Auditor.

According to the statement, “the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has approved the nomination of Arch. Waziri Bulama as the party’s Acting National Secretary.

“The decision was reached on January 14, 2020 during the meeting of the NWC at the party’s National Secretariat. Following the resignation of H.E. Mai Mala Buni as the Party’s National Secretary in May 2019 prior to his election as the Governor of Yobe State, the party subsequently gave notice for a replacement from the zone.

“The NWC has also approved the nominations of Senator Abiola Ajimobi as the Deputy National Chairman (South) and Mr. Paul Chukwuma as the National Auditor following nominations from the respective zones.”

However, earlier on Wednesday, an NWC member of the party not loyal to Oshiomhole had raised the alarm that the suspended chairman was trying to announce a new national secretary for the party despite the court order suspending him.

Salihu Mustapha, the National Vice- Chairman, North East, of the party had argued that by virtue of the court’s order, “any decision taken by Mr Oshiomhole as the national chairman of the ruling party is illegal.”

“Immediately the court injunction was given, the national chairman has called the party’s National Publicity Secretary (Lanre Issa-Onilu) to issue a statement that Bulama is the National Secretary of the party.

“I believe you guys are aware of the meeting held about a month ago on that matter, which ended without a decision. Since then there has not been a decision as to the replacement of the secretary,” Salihu had said.