Why Oshiomole Said He Would Reject APC National Chairmanship – Okorie, Okechukwu

Some politicians have adduced reasons why former National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) said he would be unwilling to return to the seat even if the court were to re-instate him.

Oshiomole, who was reacting to reports linking him to a suit filed by Hilliard Eta, a former member of the now-dissolved Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC), had tried to explain that he was not part of the suit even though he had worked together with Eta and 18 other members of the dissolved NWC.   

Eta’s lawsuit is challenging the dissolution of the Oshiomhole-led NWC in which he was the National Vice Chairman, South-South, and he wants a court order restraining the caretaker committee led by Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni, from planning the party’s convention.

But in a reaction on Tuesday, Oshiomole said that “chapter of my political life is closed. Even if another NEC decision or a court order reverses the dissolution, with utmost humility I will decline to return as APC chairman.”

He also decried media reports describing Eta as “Oshiomole’s ally,” saying he worked with all members of the former NWC as a group.

But Osita Okechukwu, a chieftain of the APC and one of those who spearheaded the “Oshiomole Must Go” movement told THE WHISTLER that Oshiomole could have spoken in order to make it clear that he was not involved in any plan to challenge the National Executive Committee of the APC which dissolved the NWC on June 25, 2020.

“I don’t know why he issued the statement, but I think it is a noble statement. He made it clear that he was not part of any plot to challenge the dissolution of the NWC which he led. It is very important for him to say that,” said OKechukwu.

On the suggestion that Oshiomole could have issued the statement because he had lost faith in the APC, Okechukwu said “I do not think so. I think he only wanted to dissociate himself from the lawsuit. He’s trying to come clean to say he’s not part of it. That’s my little understanding of it.”

Chief Chekwas Okorie, National Chairman of the United Progressive Party-one of the parties that adopted President Muhammadu Buhari in the last election-, also spoke in similar vein when asked to say what could have led Oshiomole to make the statement.

“Only him can explain why he took the stand. But it is possible that he wanted to underscore the point that he is not behind the litigation,” Okorie stated.