APC Deputy Chairman To Oshiomhole: Step Down Now

A member of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress and the party’s National Vice Chairman, North East, Mustapha Salihu, has asked Adams Oshiomhole to step down as National Chairman.

Salihu declared his position when he spoke with newsmen on Tuesday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

He described Oshiomhole as an illegal chairman unworthy to preside over any meeting until he vacates his suspension by the Edo State chapter of the party.

The outburst followed a meeting of the NWC where Alhaji Waziri Bulama from Borno State was nominated and ratified as the National Secretary of the party.

Salihu had wanted a candidate from Yobe State to emerge as national secretary, but his colleagues from the North East on the NWC voted for Bulama.

He, however, said Bulama was imposed on the party by Oshiomhole.

He told newsmen after the meeting on Tuesday: “On Monday, I held my zonal meeting and we agreed on how to go about the position of national secretary.

“Behold, today Adams Oshiomhole ordained someone and said he is going to be the National Secretary.

“I want to tell you know that this is an illegality because of two things: Number one, this party has set precedence: Babachir left, I replaced him from Adamawa State, Lai Mohammed left Bolaji replaced him from Kwara, Bolaji left Onilu replaced him from Kwara State.

“But this is not to say there is no room for consensus.

“There is serious discussion going on between Borno and Yobe for them to be able to harmonise and come up with a Secretary.

“We had a meeting on Monday and agreed that the two states should meet.”

Salihu threatened to report Oshiomhole to the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Department of State Services and other security agencies should he continue to preside over meetings without vacating the suspension order placed on him by the chapter of the party in his home state, Edo.

He said: “I have seen a subsisting court order where he has been suspended from the party in Edo.

“They followed the procedure of suspension from his ward, local government, state and his suspension was announced and court upheld it.

“I have not seen any court that is vacating that subsisting court order.

“So, I am not recognising him as national chairman.

“He doesn’t have the right to call for any meeting.”