Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, has opened up on the circumstances surrounding his removal as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), claiming he was ousted through a virtual meeting held at the Presidential Villa.

Speaking during an interview on AIT, Oshiomhole said his removal came after he had successfully led the party through critical political challenges and contributed significantly to the victory of former President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 general election.

According to him, alongside members of the National Working Committee (NWC), he played a key role in resolving leadership disputes in the National Assembly, including those involving the Senate and the House of Representatives.

“I led my party to victory under Buhari. Together with my colleagues in the National Working Committee, we resolved the leadership crisis in the National Assembly, both in the Senate and the House of Representatives, without difficulty,” he said.

Oshiomhole added that his team handled much of the political engagement and persuasion needed to strengthen the party and support the administration.

“Our president did not have to travel around the country talking to people. We carried out the marketing, explanations, persuasion, and all the necessary democratic engagements,” he stated.

He, however, alleged that once the political system became stable, efforts were made to remove him from office.

“After the system was stabilized, I was removed through a Zoom meeting. When they could not get rid of me through democratic means, they claimed that eight members of my ward signed a petition expressing no confidence in me,” he said.

The former APC chairman explained that the petition led to a court case and an interim order against him. Although he initially secured a favourable ruling at the Court of Appeal, he said the decision was later reversed.

“Based on that petition, they went to court and obtained an interim order. I appealed, and the Court of Appeal set it aside. Three weeks later, the same court revisited the matter and reinstated the order. A few days after that, I witnessed, for the first time, a National Executive Committee meeting held via Zoom at the Villa,” Oshiomhole added.