APC may make a u-turn on the situation in Edo where a serving governor has been denied of a return ticket, if reactions which commenced immediately after the ruling of the Court of Appeal, are anything to go by.
In the nation’s capital, Abuja and other parts of the country, there were conversations Tuesday night among party chieftains, according to what the Port Harcourt Telegraph has gathered through credible sources.
At the centre of ongoing conversations, the Telegraph has learnt, is what to do with the case of Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State who has withdrawn his membership of the APC.
Recall that Governors of the APC had earlier besieged the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari in a last moment effort to salvage the Obaseki ticket.
Obaseki who announced his resignation and confessed he was having a romance with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, regretted that the APC leadership had allowed the reign of one man without checks and balances.
Tuesday evening, hours after Obaseki bowed out of the APC, Oshiomhole got the shock of his life. The Court of Appeal ruled that the case brought before it by the ousted Chairman challenging his suspension lacked in merit.
It was over for the Auchi-born political heavyweight at least momentarily. The suspension of the National Chairman by his Ward, Esako Ward 10, which was ratified according to the law had finally triumphed.
What is not however clear is what step Obaseki would take at this stage, but there are strong indications that the governor may be under serious pressure to slow down on his negotiations, especially with the PDP.
An APC source told the Telegraph Tuesday night, “Our leaders are already discussing the way forward. I believe that they would come up with positions which would douse tension within the party.”
The PDP may be one of the groups hard hit by the decision of the Court of Appeal to kick out Adams Oshiomhole.
The party had opened up serious discussions with the Edo Governor. As part of the strategy, Obaseki was encouraged to reach out to notable members of the PDP.
Rivers was one of the States that Obaseki visited. Governor Nyesom Wike seized the opportunity to lash out at the Nigerian Governors Forum, describing it as a toothless bulldog.
Obaseki, based on information was to be admitted into the party without preconditions.
This means that the angry governor was not expected to benefit from an automatic ticket.
But observers say the stance orchestrated in public by the PDP could have been a mere smokescreen.
A few days, as the clock ticks, separate the PDP which would not wish to give up an opportunity to grab a big fish from Governor Godwin Obaseki who may have to attend the party’s primaries on June 20, if he decides to follow his heart.
Nonetheless, the decision handed down by the Court of Appeal has opened a window of opportunity, particularly for the APC where frantic efforts are being intensified to keep Obaseki within the party.
The National Working Committee of the Party said in a statement Tuesday night that it had received information that its National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole has been removed from office by a court.
It announced that the vacuum of leadership left by the exit of the National Party Chairman would be filled.
Relying on Section 14, sub section 2 of the party constitution, the NWC said Abiola Ajomobi would succeed Oshiomhole.
The NWC said the Chairman’s successor would occupy the position in acting capacity, pending what it said is the determination of the substantive suit.
Two claimants to the throne have emerged. They are the Deputy National Chairman, South, and his counterpart from the North East.
“I will resume office as the Acting National Chairman as soon as I receive the judgement of the Appeal Court”, Senator Lawal Shuabu, APC Deputy National Chairman from the North East, is quoted as saying.
He added, “Obaseki’s resignation will be rejected by my party. A sitting governor is an asset to our great party.”
Oshiomhole was believed to be driving the presidential ambition of Senator Bola Tinubu.
With his exit, the Tinubu group may throw its weight behind Ajimobi whose office was speedily ratified as soon as Oshiomhole secured the intervention of the Presidency weeks ago.