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The court order directing suspension of the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole may pave way for former governor Abiola Ajimobi to emerge as acting national chairman of the party.
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court had on Wednesday directed the party to suspend Oshiomhole in a suit filed by five members of the party against him. The order was given as an interlocutory injunction sought by the plaintiffs.
Sen. Abiola Ajimobi and others had their appointment ratified by the National Executive Committee of the party the same Wednesday. Ajimobi, who is a former two-term governor of Oyo State is now the national deputy chairman (South) of the party.
Justice Danlami Senchi had ordered Oshiomhole to remain on suspension pending the determination of the main suit on an interlocutory injunction brought by six members of the party.
The court held that the party wrongfully continued to retain Oshiomhole as its national chairman while he is under suspension as a member of the party.
Article 14.2 of the APC Constitution 2010(as amended) says the Deputy National Chairman should assume the office of chairman of the party in an acting capacity.
Article 14.2( i, ii, iii) stipulates the functions of the Deputy National Chairman, North and South.
It reads in part: “Assist the national chairman in the discharge of his duties; Perform such functions as may be assigned to him from time to time by the National Working Committee; Shall act as the national chairman in the absence of the national chairman from his Zone.”
Going by the provisions of the party’s constitution, Oshiomhole and Ajimobi are from the same zone and with the former on suspension,the former governor may be saddled with the responsibility of piloting the affairs of the party.