It is no longer news that the High Court’s Suspension of the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole, has been upheld by the Appeal Court. The political game in Edo State is gradually becoming more interesting than ever imagined.
POLITICS NIGERIA understands that with the Governor, Godwin Obaseki resigning his membership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the party’s National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole removed from the office a few hours later by the Court of Appeal, the game has gone from a boring one to an interesting game.
Following the appeal court’s suspension of Oshiomhole, Below are the seven possible things that will happen both to the party and the suspended National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.
1. Lawal Shuaibu to become Acting National Chairman.
The first thing that will happen to the ruling party as a result of the National Chairman’s suspension is that the party’s Deputy National Chairman North, Senator Shuaibu Lawal will become the acting National Chairman as Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi who is supposed to step in to fill the void is currently incapacitated as a result of Covid-19 related illness that has confined him to the hospital bed. Lawal Shuaibu is not a friend of Oshiomhole at all.
2. The “New” Leadership of Lawal to upturn Obaseki’s resignation
There is every possibility that, if Lawal Shuaibu becomes the acting chairman of the party, he will look for a way to upturn the resignation of Governor Obaseki from the party as with Obaseki, the party has a better chance of retaining the Edo state governorship seat while any mistake with Obaseki, the party will be a goner in the state. So, it is in the BEST interest of the ruling party to find a way of cajoling Godwin Obaseki back to the party before it is too late.
3. There will be a fresh screening exercise of APC gubernatorial aspirants will be conducted
With the Appeal court upholding the March 4th High court’s decision to sack Oshiomhole as the Chairman of the ruling party, it is safe to say, Oshiomhole has been occupying that post illegally since the said date and as such, every decision and activity of his as the party chairman within this period is hereby, null and void. In order for the party not to repeat the Zamfara and River state mistakes, a fresh aspirants screening exercise will be conducted and make no mistake, Obaseki will be cleared.
4. Oshiomhole will challenge the Appeal Court judgment at Supreme Court
Since Oshiomhole is also a dogged fighter and with the fact that he still has a lifeline left, It is very certain that he will challenge the judgment at Supreme Court level. If Oshiomhole applies for “stay on execution” order from the Supreme Court and it is granted, then he can continue his duties as the chairman but if stay on execution order is not granted, it, therefore, means new processes will come up quickly. Oshiomhole has boxed himself in a very tight corner now.
5. Oshiomhole Will Disobey Court Order
Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole may also disobey the court order restraining him from parading himself as the National Chairman of the ruling party. The implication of this is, the party will be without a candidate in the forthcoming Edo state gubernatorial election as a result of illegality.
6. Pastor Ize-Iyamu to lose Again
If the number one to three assumptions come to pass, then there is a high possibility that Pastor Ize-Iyamu who is presently Oshiomhole’s anointed candidate, will lose the primary election and there won’t be a place to hide for him. Recall that, 2016, Pastor Ize-Iyamu contested the gubernatorial election under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a contest he controversially lost to Obaseki who was then the candidate of Oshiomhole and APC.
7. Obaseki will refuse to return to the Ruling Party, cause APC big damages.
Godwin Obaseki may refuse any attempt for him to return to the ruling party as a way of getting back to the party’s screening committee as well as the chairman, Oshiomhole. Obaseki seems to be having an upper hand to “win the war after losing the fight”. Don’t try to resurrect what you have sworn to have killed and buried (godfatherism).
Will Oshiomhole survive the present sit-quake happening to him?
Will Obaseki return to APC?
Will Oshiomole’s screening committee results stands?
Whatever be the outcome of these dramas remains to be seen within a few days.
The party APC from initial never acquired power centrally democratically,few of Her followers who trusted her now bow their head in shame, certainly the evil a man committed will surely one day hunt him,PDP has Edo come next election,and untill the bad eggs such as Adams were trace and eliminated,the Party is doom for destruction.
They said he didn’t have certificates to qualify him to contest,now he resigned and joined another party. I see PDP winning that election.