*Presidency can’t confirm Buhari’s presence
*Governors, South South leaders disagree on Oshiomhole’s suspension
*Ibediro slams deputy over plot to take over NOS office, as court hears Oshiomhole’s appeal today
By Ezeocha Nzeh (Abuja) and Blessing Ibunde (Port Harcourt)
Tuesday’s proposed emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of crisis ridden ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been riddled with uncertainty as it cannot be confirmed whether the planned meeting will hold or not.
The APC National Working Committee (NWC) had hurriedly fixed the meeting to deliberate on the party’s way forward after an Abuja had suspended iots national Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, following his suspension by his Etsako Ward in Edo state.
APC National Vice Chairman, North East, Salihu Mustapha led other five members of the [party to approach and Abuja court presided over by Justice Danladi Senchi, whjo granted their prayer that the embattled National Chairman should be barred from all party activities following the suspension.
Following the court order, some anti Oshiomhole members of the NWC swung into action to implement the injunction against Oshiomhole, when they claimed to have met with President Muhammadu Buhari, whoapproved their request for the NEC meeting.
In preparation for the party, the NWC member held several meetings and have since commence renovation jobs at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, in preparation for the March 17 NEC meeting, which is expected to seek the way forward for the party.
But investigations by The AUTHORITRY shows that it is not clear yet whether the NEC meeting will go on not as there has continued to be series of meeting by both the pro and anti Oshiomhole camps of the party to either frustrate the NEC meeting or ensure that it holds as planned
While the Acting National Secretary of the party, Victor Geidom, who signed the party’s invitation for the meeting has maintained that there is nothing will stop the NEC from meeting on Tuesday, some other pro Oshiomhole NWC members and stakeholders have continued to meet and lure some other party chieftains to shun the NEC invitation, with the fear that the embattled chairman may be replace at the meeting
Gaidom who confirmed that the presidency will be present at the NEC also stated that all the members of NEC have been notified of the meeting.
“As NWC, we just finished our meeting, just to inform the public that the NEC meeting scheduled for the 17th March will still hold and every preparation towards that meeting is in top gear. I want to use this opportunity to invite all NEC members to attend the meeting.
“I can tell you that every member of NEC is prepared to attend this meeting,” assured Gaidom who was said to have met with Federal Government on Friday to secure final clearnce and assurance for the meeting
But as the Acting National secretary may have assured that the meeting will go on as planned, it was not clear as at the weekend, whether President Muhammadu Buhari will be present a at the NEC meeting or not
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, could not confirm this when he was approached on Saturday for comments
“Honestly, I don’t know if the President will attend. I have no Information concerning that at the moment,” he said.
