APC wades into Oshiomole-Obaseki rift

By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday moved to save its local chapter in Edo State where its National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole and Governor Godwin Obaseki are locked in a battle of supremacy.

Its National Working Committee (NWC) raised a five-man facts-finding committee to look into the crisis rocking the Edo State chapter of the party.

Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje was named as the panel chair.

According to a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the committee has a mandate speaking with all sides to the crisis and report back to the NWC.

On Monday, the party spoke of a plan to constitute a committee of prominent members to steer a process of reconciliation in the Southsouth state.

Issa-Onilu said in the statement: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has appointed the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje to head the party’s five-member fact-finding committee for the APC chapter in Edo State.

“Other members of the committee are: Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari; former governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi; former governor of Borno State and serving senator, Kashim Shettima and Honourable Ahmed Wadada (Secretary).

“The Committee is expected to meet with all disputing interests and present its findings to the party. You would recall that the party took a decision earlier in the week to constitute a committee of prominent party leaders on the lingering crisis in our party in Edo State.

“This marks another step in our party’s effort to find a lasting solution to the crisis and ensure our party comes out of it even stronger.”