A detachment of men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) yesterday besieged the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a move to forestall any breakdown of law and order after a court-ordered Adams Oshiomhole to stop parading himself as the chairman of the party.
About 9 trucks full of well-armed policemen were at the APC secretariat with some roaming around the compound, asking staff to return to their offices.
As at the time of filing this report, it was yet to be ascertained who called for the reinforcement.
A source, however, said that thugs were seen gathering near the party office hence the move to bridge any security laps.
Recall that a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Jabi, Abuja yesterday ordered Adams Oshiomhole to henceforth stop parading himself as the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
The judge ordered the party not to allow Oshimhole access to the secretariat.
Justice Danlami Senchi, in a ruling on Wednesday, restrains Oshiomhole from acting as the APC chairman pending the hearing and determination a suit by six members of the party, led by Mustapha Salihu.
The ruling was on an application of interlocutory injunction filed by the plaintiffs, and in which they prayed the court to suspend Oshiomhole in view of his earlier suspension as a member of the APC in his Etsako Ward 10 in Edo State.
In the suit filed for the plaintiffs by their lawyer, Oluwole Afolabi, Oshiomhole is listed as the first respondent, while the APC is named as the second respondent.
Justice Senchi held that Oshiomhole had been wrongfully kept as the APC National Chairman after his suspension.
The judge ordered Oshiomole to stop parading himself as the Chairman of the party.
He equally directed the APC to desist from acknowledging him as the chairman of the party
The judge further ordered APC not to grant Oshiomole access to the party Secretariat.
Justice Senchi held that political parties must be bound by their constitution.
He was of the view that, since Oshiomhole had been evidently suspended by his ward and the suspension not challenged, he has no basis to parade himself as the APC National Chairman.
The plaintiffs had noted, in the application that Oshiomhole had been suspended by the party and that he has not challenged the suspension.
They added that Oshiomhole’s rights as a member of the party have ceased and that he could not continue to act as the party’s Chairman.
He argued that Oshiomhole cannot continue to enjoy benefits from the APC in view of his suspension as a member of the party.
Hearing of the substantive suit has been fixed for April 7, 2020.
Also, the National Vice Chairman (North-East), Salihu Mustapha, has backed the court decision. He told reporters that following the court injunction, Oshiomhole was for now, in no position to issue any instruction as doing so will be “illegal, null and void”.
He explained that his intervention was based on information that as soon as the court pronouncement became public, Oshiomhole allegedly instructed the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Isa-Onilu to issue a statement announcing Waziri Bulama, as acting National Secretary.
Mustapha said, “Immediately the court injunction was given, the national chairman has called the party’s chief press secretary (National Publicity Secretary) to issue a statement to the press that Waziri Bulama is the (acting) National Secretary to the Party.
“I believe you 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.
“The chairman is about to create more chaos within the party as he gave the order.
“The public should know that any decision that Oshiomhole makes henceforth is an illegal decision and will not hold.
“We will keep our fingers crossed until the court decides. I am saying this so that there can be no two acting National Secretaries and there can be no affirmation from a national chairman that has been suspended.”
Oshiomhole’s suspension was a sequel to an action instituted by one Olawale Afolabi, who described himself as a member of the party, went to court to stop Oshiomhole from performing the functions of the national chairman.
According to him, Oshiomhole ceased to be the APC National Chairman from the day he was suspended by the Edo State Chapter of the party.
