The senator representing Edo North, who breezed into the party’s secretariat at about 4.15 pm, was warmly received by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje.
The development is coming a day after the official inauguration of the 45 ministers appointed by President Bola Tinubu.
After exchanging pleasantries, the duo held a closed-door meeting that lasted for about 35 minutes before Oshiomhole, who was also a former APC national chairman, drove out of the premises without addressing the media.
Efforts to get the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, to react to if the visit was unsuccessful.
As of the time of filing this report, he did not return the calls or reply to messages sent for clarification.
A source at the national secretariat however noted that the visit may not be unconnected with the proposed defection of Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu to the ruling APC.
“Although we understand (Governor Godwin) Obaseki may have been trying to resolve his differences with his number two man, there are still insinuations that Shaibu is keen on pursueing his ambition on the platform of the APC.
“The only stumbling block to the plan as we have seen is Oshiomhole. Perhaps, that’s the reason he probably visited the national chairman today,” the source said.
Oshiomhole has stirred controversy two weeks ago when he announced that the ruling party is not a rehabilitation centre for failed, disgruntled and disloyal politicians.
The former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress was reacting to the news making the rounds that Shaibu was planning to rejoin the APC after falling out with his principal.
He made the scathing comment in Benin during a condolence visit to the family of the late Esogban of Benin kingdom, Chief David Edebiri.
Obaseki, on the other hand, had alleged that the court action taken by Shaibu was a preemptive move ahead of his defection to the APC.
The Edo governor said there was no plan to impeach his deputy, adding that his deputy had been actively engaging with members of the APC at the national and state levels to negotiate a safe passage into the ruling party.
