The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday spoke on the reasons why the Minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Hajiya Aisha Alhassan, were disqualified.
Oshiomhole said Shittu’s admittance that he didn’t participate in the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme was sufficient to disqualify him. He said the minister’s argument that his records as a former member of the State House of Assembly and the current position were enough as a sacrifice was not tenable, stating that non-participation is a moral and legal issue.
On the case of Hajiya Alhassan, the APC national chairman said the party had issues with her loyalty, following the past uncomplimentary remarks on one of the presidential aspirants. He said the party took the decision after a thorough review of her comments and general attitude, adding that party loyalty is a must in the APC constitution.
Fielding questions on the case of Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the House of Representatives, the former governor of Edo State said the APC would not accept a situation whereby members of the minority would lead majority party in the National Assembly.
On the controversy over the Electoral Act, Oshiomhole said Saraki and his cohorts put a clause in the Act that would move the 2019 general elections close to the handover day to enable them negotiate good terms with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before taking a final decision on defection.
