Deputy national chairmanship: Ekiti APC describes Ajimobi’s nomination as nullity

The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) took a new dimension on Thursday as the Ekiti State chapter of the party described the announcement of former Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi as the deputy national chairman (South) of the party as a nullity.

The National Publicity Secretary of the APC had on Wednesday after the court ruling sacking Adams Oshiomhole as the national chairman of the party announced the nominations of the former Oyo state governor.

But the Publicity Secretary of the party in Ekiti, Ade Ajayi in a statement said the announcement was fraudulent and urged all members of the party to disregard it in totality.

He disclosed that it is only the National Executive Council (NEC) not the National Working Committee(NWC) that has the power according to the party’s constitution to ratify the nomination, adding that the position remained vacant.

The statement partly read, ” We wish to categorically state here that the statement is a fraudulent assertion. As far as the Ekiti State APC Is concerned, our nominee for the vacant position of the Deputy Vice Chairman (South) is Senator Gbenga Aluko and we have not ceded our right to the position.

” It is unfortunate that the NWC could still go ahead to forge the decision of the NEC who is the only body empowered by the party constitution to ratify the nomination of candidates.

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” Kindly recall that  the same NWC wrote to the leadership of the Southwest Caucus sometimes in February to forward the name of their nominees to fill the vacant position. How come then that the decision for ratification was taken in January 14?.

” Meanwhile, one should ask, whose prerogative is it to ratify the nomination, is it that of NWC or that of the NEC? From the provisions of the articles of the APC constitution, it is clear that only NEC can ratify such nomination. It is therefore suffice to say that the purported ratification by NWC of Ajimobi’s nomination is an effort in futility.”

Ajayi further explained that the decision of the party to announce Ajimobi amount to contempt of court saying that aspirant from the state had approached the Federal High Court to stop the nomination pending the determination of the suit.

According to him, all parties to the suit have been served, noting that, “whatever decision taken during the pendency of the matter is also a nullity.”

” When you consider the whole issues, it clear that the position of Deputy National Chairman South of APC is still vacant and whatever nomination and announcement that may have been made is nothing more than a nullity and exercise futility,” Ajayi declared.