Supreme Court ruling on APC leadership: Osinbajo, governors, others swing into action to save party’s soul

….Cancelation of July 31 nationwide Congresses being mooted good in

Following a Supreme Court ruling, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has swung into action on the prompting of President Muhammadu Buhari ,holding consultations with party leaders and governors to chart the way forward and save the party from future legal traps

The Osinbajo team is back on the drawing table with a view to resolving the internal political crisis that came on the heels of the Supreme Court ruling last week on the fate of the current APC national Caretaker leadership.

Persecondnews learnt that on July 30, the Vice-President first held a legal review session with lawyers in the Federal Executive Council where the issue was discussed and later also engaged in wide consultations with APC Governors just before the Ward Congresses of Saturday.

The Caretaker Committee Chairman was also reported to made his way to the Villa over the weekend with the Kogi State Governor to explain the stance of the current party leadership to the VP after efforts to reach him had failed earlier on Friday.

It is believed that the VP, who has been asked to resolve the matter by the President, is intent on ensuring that the party benefits from what seems to be a legal warning from the Apex Court ruling which had a 4-3 verdict with the justices questioning the constitutional validity of a sitting Governor holding such an executive post as national party Caretaker Chairman.

While a last minute cancelation of the Congresses was on the table on Friday night, APC Governors reportedly told Osinbajo that majority of them would rather prefer to go on with the Congresses even though some felt an outright cancelation of the Congresses would be inevitable if it went ahead.

A source who is aware of the ongoing consultations said it is not true that the VP directed the Attorney General on the matter especially since the AGF is not a party official.

As for Governor Buni, there was no communication between the VP and him until late Friday night when he reached out to the VP around midnight. But by then the Governors had already argued for the continuation of the Congresses, although some Governors including one from North had strongly argued against proceeding with the Ward Congresses.

A top Villa source said last night that “the VP is of the firm view that the Supreme Court ruling last week is a clear legal ditch which is best avoided and he wants to ensure that the interest of the party is what is paramount”.

Osinbajo also expressed the hope that all stakeholders would eventually find a way in the interest of Nigerians who have reposed so much confidence and support in the party.