I Was Sacked as APC National Chairman on Zoom Meeting I Never Joined — Adams Oshiomhole Recounts Painful Removal

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, has revealed fresh details about the circumstances surrounding his removal from office in 2020, alleging that the decision was taken during a virtual meeting to which he was never invited.

Speaking in an interview reported by AIT, Oshiomhole described his ouster as an unusual and politically driven process that unfolded at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The former Edo State governor, who served as APC National Chairman between 2018 and 2020, said powerful interests within the party were determined to remove him after efforts to unseat him through conventional party mechanisms failed.

According to Oshiomhole, a series of internal disputes and court-related challenges had already created tension within the party and weakened his position before the controversial National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting was held.

He alleged that the NEC session, which took place virtually from the Presidential Villa due to pandemic restrictions, was conducted without formally inviting him despite being the sitting chairman at the time.

The senator further claimed that the meeting failed to meet the constitutional requirements for quorum but nevertheless proceeded to make far-reaching decisions concerning the party’s leadership structure.

“I was removed through a Zoom meeting that I was not invited to,” Oshiomhole reportedly stated, recalling the events that led to his exit from the party’s top leadership position.

According to him, the virtual NEC meeting not only approved his removal as national chairman but also dissolved the entire National Working Committee (NWC) under his leadership.

The development subsequently paved the way for the appointment of a caretaker committee led by Mai Mala Buni, who was then serving as Governor of Yobe State.

Oshiomhole argued that the events reflected broader political battles within the APC, particularly among influential governors and stakeholders who opposed his approach to party administration and internal reforms.

The former labour leader suggested that his removal was less about constitutional procedure and more about internal power dynamics that had intensified within the ruling party at the time.

Despite expressing dissatisfaction with how the process unfolded, Oshiomhole said he ultimately decided against pursuing prolonged legal action, even though he believed he had grounds to challenge the decisions taken at the meeting.

He described the episode as one of the most significant political lessons of his career, noting that it offered him a deeper understanding of the realities of power and party politics.

While acknowledging the pain of the experience, the senator stressed that he remains loyal to the APC and continues to support the party’s objectives.

His comments provide fresh insight into one of the most dramatic leadership crises in the APC’s history, a period marked by intense internal conflicts, court battles, and the eventual restructuring of the party’s leadership ahead of subsequent electoral contests.

Today, Oshiomhole remains an influential figure within the ruling party, serving as a senator while continuing to play an active role in national political discourse.