John Alechenu and Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja


Barring any last minute changes , a leadership meeting of the All Progressives Congress will hold next week to determine the fate of the embattled National Chairman of the party , Adams Oshiomhole , Saturday PUNCH has learnt.

A prominent member of the party , who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, confided in one of our correspondents , in Abuja , on Friday that as a precursor to this meeting , the party ’ s National Leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu , and Oshiomhole , met in Paris, France , on Thursday . Tinubu had gone to France ahead of the President’ s visit to the country.

It was further learnt that the meeting between Tinubu and Oshiomhole centred on the growing plot by aggrieved party members especially governors to remove Oshiomhole from office .

The former Lagos State governor is one of the party stalwarts backing Oshiomhole who is now under probe by the Department of State Services.

An APC source said , “ Tinubu and Oshiomhole met in Paris on Thursday over attempts by governors and some members of the NWC to remove the party chairman . You will recall that it was Asiwaju who paved the way for the emergence of Oshiomhole as the chairman when Chief Oyegun wanted a tenure extension .

“ Now that he has come under probe by the DSS and is being asked to step aside , he has run to Tinubu to save him . It remains unclear what their strategy will be to put a stop to the probe. ”

It was also learnt that some aggrieved governors had begun reaching out to members of the National Working Committee to ask Oshiomhole to step aside pending the outcome of the DSS probe.

A member of the party ’ s NWC , who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retribution said , “ The fact that Oshiomhole is under investigation for allegedly collecting money from aspirants is bad for the image of the APC government which claims to be fighting corruption .

“ It is for this reason that the NWC members are being asked (by interested parties) to push for the suspension of the APC chairman pending the outcome of the probe. The President’ s body language and actions in the coming days will determine Oshiomhole ’ s fate. For now , we are still considering it but we don’ t want to make any hasty decision until we are sure that we have the President ’ s backing . ”

Another party source said high - ranking party leaders would meet “ next week ” to decide the best way to proceed without “ further depleting the party ’ s public image and goodwill . ”

It was also gathered that President Buhari , who has taken charge of efforts to resolve the party ’ s post primary crisis , would be convening the meeting.

Apart from Buhari , those expected at the Abuja meeting include: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo , Tinubu , pioneer Interim National Chairman of the party , Chief Bisi Akande, the Minister of Science and Technology , Dr . Ogbonnaya Onu (as former chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party ), and Prince Tony Momoh ( former National Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change ).

The party source said , “The matter is receiving attention at the highest level . We cannot pretend, the situation involving our national chairman is already in public domain.

“ His invitation and subsequent interrogation by the Department of State Services, is an indictment if you ask me ; but you cannot pronounce a man guilty without giving him the right of fair hearing .

“ The leadership meeting will take place because as you know , we don’ t have a Board of Trustees in place. Mr. President as the leader of the party , who in fact , has personally taken over the process of dealing with the post- primary crisis, is convening the meeting to deal with all these issues . ”

In response to a question on whether there were charges against the party chairman, he said , “Our party has a constitution , I refer you to Article 21 which deals with the issue of party discipline. Go and read sub - sections i, ii and xi ."

Article 21 of the APC Constitution (April 2014 As amended) which deals with the discipline of party members reads in part, “ Subject to the provision of this Article and the right to fair hearing , the party shall have power to discipline party members . The power shall be exercised on behalf of the party by the respective Executive Committee of the party at all levels .

“ Offences against the party shall include the following : (i )a breach of any provision of this constitution ; (i ) anti - party activities or any conduct, which is likely to embarrass or have adverse effect on the party or put it into hatred , contempt , ridicule or disrepute ; (xi) in cases of alteration of delegate lists , falsification of nomination results, and or tampering with the processes of internal democracy of the party , the offender shall be liable to expulsion from the party and be prosecuted . ”

Efforts to get a response from the party chairman were futile . Calls to the mobile telephone number of Oshiomhole ’ s media aide , Mr. Simon Ebegbulem , were neither picked nor returned.

A response to a text message asking him to confirm whether or not his principal had returned to the country and what was his response to the news making the rounds about his encounter with the DSS was still being expected as at the time of filing this report at 8 : 07pm .

The APC National Publicity Secretary , Mallam Lanre Issa -Onilu , told Saturday PUNCH on Friday night that Oshiomhole was back in the country .

He said , “ The APC chairman is back in the country as scheduled. This is contrary to speculations that he was running away . He has been postponing the trip due to the party primaries and submission of candidates ’ names to INEC ”.

Asked about the meeting between Oshiomhole and Tinubu in France, the APC spokesman replied, “ I don’ t have such information yet . ”

On the proposed leadership meeting holding in Abuja next week , Issa- Onilu said , “ I am not aware but even if such meeting would hold … you see there is no crisis in APC . What people call crisis , I call conflict . I can assure you that we are in peace in the APC. The chairman and the NWC are standing for democracy and you should expect resistance.

However , the Spokesman for Buhari Campaign Organisation , Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), said the crisis within the party was being exaggerated by the media.

Keyamo said the crisis was normal for a ruling party , adding that things would become normal very soon .

He said , “Let me say clearly that what is happening now is only normal for a ruling party . ”

https://punchng.com/apc-crisis-buhari-osibanjo-tinubu-govs-meet-next-week-to-determine-oshiomholes-fate/


Cc lalasticlala, mynd44

It is so good to see that we have a President that does not intervene in the rule of law.
That is the type of President we have prayed for all these years.
Anything for the betterment of Nigeria is what we pray for.
We believe in the President's and Vice President's final decision in this case.
We are in very safe hands.
NIGERIA WILL BE GREAT AGAIN.



APC has won gubernatorial positions under Buhari in Kogi, Edo, Ekiti and Osun states. The victories were fair and square. The party lost in Bayelsa and Anambra. This President would never manipulate victory for anyone, not even his own party. And you ask us not to trust him? Of course, We will!

Talking about double standards....last week they were making noise about Atiku having a meeting in Dubai.....now APC crew are meeting in Paris.....are there no meeting halls in Nigeria?..........with whose money are they footing the bills of the trip?......definitely tax payers money.... therefore they should be arrested & prosecuted.......nicompoops.......!

APC has started self imploding

We hear

They should leave osho baba to finish the good work he's doing for PDP in APC.

Ttt

All these yeye news nowadays...these people just keep repeating the same things in different words

The above article could have been reported in one paragraph.

We will vote for President Buhari over and over, again and again, because he can be trusted. You can trust him with the resources of the country. He won't filch them. You can trust him with power. He won't misuse it. You can trust him with the well being of the land, he cares.

PqsMike:

How come Bihari only wears suit on campaign posters ?? Is it a crime to wear one on any official duty..? Even if na once a year

Okay, we will tell him tomorrow when we go to Aso Chapel.
Thank you for the mention!
Perhaps, wearing suit will start putting more money in your pocket henceforth.

dre11:




https://punchng.com/apc-crisis-buhari-osibanjo-tinubu-govs-meet-next-week-to-determine-oshiomholes-fate/


Cc lalasticlala, mynd44

I observed both APC and PDP are the same thing corruption any where chaii there is God wooo

MOSICATED5:
They should leave osho baba to finish the good work he's doing for PDP in APC.

yeah you mean the thorough beating pdp have been recieving since he took over from docile oyegun
oshomole thrashed pdp in bauchi rerun
kastina rerun
kogi rerun
ekiti gubernatorial election
osun state gubernatorial election
since oshomole took over apc pdp always come second just like the name of pdp chairman implies SECONDUS

una wan do us favor burn the broom party una self... Dullardino must go back to Dauradino with his cowsdino..

After Oshiomole has finished doing their dirty job, they want to sack him. It's know hidden secret that the APC government knows it would lose the 2019 general elections so it intend to keep Kaduna and a few Western States to solidify it position on national matters afterwards. Oshiomole is just a scapegoat.

Oshiomole's job will remain intact.

APC will be insane to remove him cause he against powerful politicians from forcing their family members on poor masses

I see Oshiomole being *sacrificed* for 2019 elections.

Like they wouldn't want all those aggrieved governors to have a rethink now... Would they

jabberjawz:
Talking about double standards....last week they were making noise about Atiku having a meeting in Dubai.....now APC crew are meeting in Paris.....are there no meeting halls in Nigeria?..........with whose money are they footing the bills of the trip?......definitely tax payers money.... therefore they should be arrested & prosecuted.......nicompoops.......!

shut up where did u read in the article that says buhari, osibanjo, tinubu oshomole and governors re meeting in paris?

Jaga jaga party

Una no fit rule una house na Nigeria una wan rule?

PDP started their process after you and finished b4 u. No noise anywhere in the country. For APC we still fit never sleep on top una matter

Whenever you see a long story in a newspaper quoting unknown sources here and there just consider it as fake. Imagine writing up to three paragraphs without quoting a tangible source but you keep hearing that... It was gathered from a party source without a name.

Seconly, cable online which broke the news of Oshiomole's home coming said he met Tinubu in UK now punch is reporting that the meeting held in France implying that they are not even sure of what they are reporting.

Orla234:
I see Oshiomole being *sacrificed* for 2019 elections.

Like they wouldn't want all those aggrieved governors to have a rethink now... Would they

oshomole is going no where
those governors need Apc more than Apc need them.
rochas ,amosun , yari and akeredolu cannot stop buhari re election bid. it will only affect apc at the gubernatorial election but trust me oshomole knows how to deal with opposition ruthlessly thats why he has won 95% of his election since he took over

jabberjawz:
Talking about double standards....last week they were making noise about Atiku having a meeting in Dubai.....now APC crew are meeting in Paris.....are there no meeting halls in Nigeria?..........with whose money are they footing the bills of the trip?......definitely tax payers money.... therefore they should be arrested & prosecuted.......nicompoops.......!

No don't see it that way, paris is the capital of old western region nigeria. If you think I'm lying, ask a particular minister or apc spokesperson.

post=72834731:
It is so good to see that we have a President that does not intervene in the rule of law.
That is the type of President we have prayed for all these years.
Anything for the betterment of Nigeria is what we pray for.
We believe in the President's and Vice President's final decision in this case.
We are in very safe hands.
NIGERIA WILL BE GREAT AGAIN.



APC has won gubernatorial positions under Buhari in Kogi, Edo, Ekiti and Osun states. The victories were fair and square. The party lost in Bayelsa and Anambra. This President would never manipulate victory for anyone, not even his own party. And you ask us not to trust him? Of course, We will!

the kind of President that is not in control of government?
The kind of president that allows his national chairman to collect bribe in fixing the party?
APC is dead and dead for good ,never will a president that is not aware of anything be allowed to lead.
Buhari is lifeless and hypocrite kiss the truth

lonecatt:
the kind of President that is not in control of government?
The kind of president that allows his national chairman to collect bribe in fixing the party?

Buhari is lifeless and hypocrite kiss the truth

OK.
Since you have taken him to court and found him guilty of taking bribe already.
Then OK.
We only comment on sensible mentions, not assumptions that leads to senseless noise making online!
It does no one any good!

They want to end oshiomhole's political career just like that because he refused to dance to the tune of some greedy politicians. APC is indeed a failed party.

Osho irumole the dwarf, whoever contends with Saraki contends with the gods. There is something special abt Saraki. Osho baba step aside or we will step you down. Just as you told Saraki, resign or be impeached. Who is removing who now? What goes around comes around. Oya go and face the DSS. I go dey on top mat dey pray for you

I dedicate this last to comment to nwaamaikpe
the only thing I know is that after 2019 election tinubu will be dumped in the lagoon were he belong..

post=72834756:
We will vote for President Buhari over and over, again and again, because he can be trusted. You can trust him with the resources of the country. He won't filch them. You can trust him with power. He won't misuse it. You can trust him with the well being of the land, he cares.

Yes. I support you on those things you mentioned. He wouldn't filch with our resources only his children will acquire bikes and his relatives in different sectors. He won't misuse power he can only identify corrupt saints and evil oppositions. And the last one is the one we should trust all into his hand, our WELL BEING, ask the people of taraba, jos, benue if you think I'm lying.

Very useless party like the 1st poster in this thread.

APC's implosion was foretold, and it's disinintegration inevitable.

"Oshi omo ole" is the undertaker divinely selected to do this task.

Good riddance to the most clueless and useless party that ever graced our political firmament.

Otsam:


Yes. I support you on those things you mentioned. He wouldn't filch with our resources only his children will acquire bikes and his relatives in different sectors. He won't misuse power he can only identify corrupt saints and evil oppositions. And the last one is the one we should trust all into his hand, our WELL BEING, ask the people of taraba, jos, benue if you think I'm lying.

Okay you are right.
At least you can quote us unlike the scared uglyaddy, who has been taught a bitter lesson of his life!
He's so afraid now!

Uglyaddy:
Very useless party like the 1st poster in this thread.

lol

lonecatt:
the kind of President that is not in control of government?
The kind of president that allows his national chairman to collect bribe in fixing the party?

Buhari is lifeless and hypocrite kiss the truth

Does he go about with Oshimole?

Nigerians will just loose their sense of reasoning over nothing. Tueh!!

princdebola201:
oshomole is going no where
those governors need Apc more than Apc need them.
rochas ,amosun , yari and akeredolu cannot stop buhari re election bid. it will only affect apc at the gubernatorial election but trust me oshomole knows how to deal with opposition ruthlessly thats why he has won 95% of his election since he took over

It's left to be seen.

The coming elections will be extraordinary o.