The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was reportedly detained at the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Sunday.
The former Edo State governor who emerged the chairman of the ruling party in August, was grilled by DSS operatives for nine hours after some APC governors alleged that he received bribes during the party’s primary elections across the country.
According to The Cable, Oshiomole during the interrogation, was asked to resign by the security operatives.
Oshiomhole who has been in a battle with some APC governors over the outcome of the party primaries, resisted the pressure to resign, saying he would only do so if he loses the confidence of President Buhari.
The APC chairman told the DSS that the president was in the loop of every action he took during the party’s primaries.
“Adams Oshiomhole was arrested by the DSS, they didn’t show him any petition. It was alleged by some governors that he collected bribe during the primaries. He was told to resign and he told DSS operatives that he will resign if he loses the confidence of the president. He said everything the party did, he (Buhari) was in the know.” a source said
Another source said the president expressed shock at the governors’ move, saying he was not aware of the development.
“On Monday night Oshiomhole met with the president and briefed him on what happened and the president was shocked. The president said he did not know about it and promised to look into it,” the source said.
The APC primaries were marred by controversies. Elections in some states had to be repeated. Governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo state and his Ogun state counterpart, Ibikunle Amosun, have openly condemned Oshiomole for the manner in which the party’s governorship primaries held in their states. It is believed that Oshiomole prevented their anointed candidates from emerging the governorship flag bearers for the 2019 election
…APC reacts
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that it is not aware of the detention and quizzing of its National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, by the Department of State Security, DSS.
The national spokesman of the party, Lanre Issa-Onilu, who described the report of Oshiomhole’s ordeal with the DSS as a rumour because the APC has not been officially informed about the matter, said this on Wednesday in a chat with newsmen.
It was learnt that Oshiomhole was grilled by the DSS operatives for nine hours after some APC governors alleged that he received bribes during the party’s primary elections across the country.
However, Issa-Onilu said Oshiomhole was the best person to confirm or deny the report.
He said, “We do not have any information on this rumour. More so, the Chairman is not around in the country to confirm or deny this.
“As soon as we have any relevant information, you’ll be updated.
Asked for Oshiomhole’s whereabouts, he said: “He (APC Chairman) travelled last night.”
Pressed further for information as to the National Chairman’s destination, Issa-Onilu maintained: “I do not have this information. I do know it’s a scheduled personal trip he could not make last week due to the November 2 deadline for the submission of candidates.”
Meanwhile, the senator representing Kogi West district, Dino Melaye, has mocked the APC over Oshiomhole’s reported questioning over alleged bribery.
The senator wrote on his Twitter handle: “Can it be true that Adams Oshiomhole has been the guest of SSS for 2days?
“A lot of confessions and revelations said to have been made over corruption associated with party tickets.
“APC is really fighting corruption. We will see how this will end. Nigerians are watching.”
