A group under the ageis of
Concerned Afemai All progressives Congress (APC) members has urged the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC to disqualify the former National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomole from participating in the party primaries.
The group made the call while staging a protest at the APC national secretariat on Friday in Abuja, questioned the credibility of the former chairman to contest for any elective position under the ruling party in 2023.
Mr Steven Asemah while reading the statement signed by the group’s Secretary, Mr Ojo Evbouan,
expressed displeasure that the former chairman, despite several legal battles and controversial circumstances that pushed him out of office in 2020, went ahead and purchased both the presidential and senatorial nomination forms.
The group opined that Oshiomole was unqualified to participate in the 2023 general elections under the ruling APC as his membership status is illegal.
They said “We wish to draw the attention of our party to the serial controversies vis-a-vis legal burden hanging on Adams Aliu Oshiomole,especially relating to his non-credibility to participate in the ongoing APC Nomination Exercise for the 2023 general election.
“Based on a subsisting indictment in May 14th 2020, by Justice James Oyomire(rtd) Judicial Commission of Inquiry Report which indicted Adams Aliu Oshiomole on the gross breach of the Edo State Public Procurement Law in the N1.4billion Supply and Installations of medical Equipment by VAMED Engineering Nigeria Limited(January 4th 2015). And that on December 23rd,2015 Contract Awards of N12.2billion to A&K Construction Ltd and another N2.5billion to Sageto Ltd for Constructions of a Teaching Hospital and Senate building respectively in the Edo University Iyamho,were also fraught with breaches of the State’s Procurement laws.
“It is also a dent of credibiliy on Adams Aliu Oshiomole if he has not disclosed his aforesaid indictment in his 2022 APC Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms. Any such non-disclosure by Adams Oshiomole will be contrary Article 7(iv) and 21.2(v) of the APC Constitution”.
The group also alleged that the authenticity of Oshiomole membership status after his suspension remains an unsettled fundamental issue.
They said” We recall that as at August 24, 2021 Justice D.Z. Senchi of an Abuja High Court sitting at Jabi, ruled that “Pursuant to the Motion on Notice, No. FCT/HC/M/8148/2020, dated and filed on 1/7/2020 discontinuing this suit at the instance of the Plaintiffs/Applicants and the Defendants/Respondents not opposing the application for discontinuance, the application is hereby granted and suit is dismissed.
“Parties to bear their respective cost, if any.” it was a suit filed by Comrade Mustapha Saliu, Oshawo Steven and four others over the purported suspension of the former APC National Chairman by his ward 10 APC Executives, Etsako West L.G.A.
“An Abuja High Court had earlier asked Oshiomhole to step aside as National Chairman of the APC pending the determination of the substantive suit. The Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the Lower Court, and Oshiomhole stepped aside.
“The Plaintiffs were expected to return to the Lower Court to commence the hearing of the substantive suit, instead they filed an application seeking a withdrawal of the substantive suit.(Probably after a political mediation).
Although on June 20th, 2020 the suspension letter was purported lifted by 17 Wars Executives.but if the case was withdrawn from court,that does not validate the Membership status of Oshiomole. if the suspension was lifted,did it duely comply with Section 21C(I & v) of the APC Constitution”.
The group further questioned the appropriateness of the former APC Chairman in picking nomination forms for two positions.
“The validity of individuals picking dual Nomination Forms within the same Nomination process of a Political Party is not a controversial political habit that is exposed to legal challenge anytime.
“Consequently, Oshiomole’s dual aspiration(for Presidency & Senate) within APC 2022 Nomination process,is a disregard for internal democracy,APC constitution, INEC Guidelines, Electoral Act 30,35,115d, 115k &.1999 Constitution.
“In view of the precarious opposition status of APC in Edo state,wherein the ruling PDP under a draconic Governor Godwin Obaseki may lay ambush on the electoral prospects of APC if Adams Oshiomole’s is considered for nomination.
“We therefore advise the APC Appeal Screening Committee to curtail avoidable technical losses of APC in Edo-North(which remains the only APC stronghold in Edo state).
“The Appeal Committee should review and stepdown Adams Alliu Oshiomole from the ongoing 2022 APC nomination process” he added.
