Oshiomhole declares he will not return as APC chairman even if court overturns Buhari's NWC dissolution

FORMER All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman Adams Oshiomhole has dissociated himself from the legal suit challenging the dissolution of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party pointing out that he is not interested in returning to office.

Over the last year, the APC has been through a torrid time as factional infighting, endless legal battles and the jostling for party positions. As part of this wrangling, Mr Oshiomhole himself was removed from office by a high court judgement and wading into the matter, President Muhammadu Buhari dissolved the NWC, setting up a caretaker committee.

However, Mr Eta, the APC's vice chairman south-south took legal action on the matter challenging the validity of the dissolution of the NWC. Pointing out that he was not party to the legal action, Mr Oshiomhole said he was not the plaintiff in the matter as the court documents clearly showed.

Mr Oshiomhole issued a statement which read: “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.

“In reporting the legal action taken by a member of the dissolved National Working Committee of the APC, some attributions have been made to the effect that the plaintiff is an ally of Oshiomhole or an associate of Oshiomhole. The court documents are clear on who is the plaintiff.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the 21-member NWC under my leadership largely worked cohesively and harmoniously. The only exceptions were those of the three members used by forces desperate to take control of the party."

“The majority of 18 members worked as a team and not as allies or loyalists of anybody. When the National Executive Committee in its wisdom dissolved the NWC, I immediately announced publicly that I accepted the decision, regardless of its illegality or otherwise, as it affected my position as national chairman.”

He further explained that he personally announced his decision not to contest his removal from office for personal reasons, noting that some of his colleagues in the dissolved NWC didn’t share his views with regards to his decision not to contest the dissolution in court. Mr Oshiomhole added that it would be mischievous to insinuate that he was surreptitiously contesting the matter in court after publicly denouncing the same.

“I can only accept responsibility for my own decision. Subsequently, I instructed my lawyers to withdraw the suits challenging my purported suspension from office by the proxies of those bent on removing me as chairman," Mr Oshiomhole added.