Oshiomole hits back; Edo APC suspends Obaseki, Shuabu, Ojezua, others

The All Progressives Congress APC in Edo state has announced the suspension of the state Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shuaibu, saying the governor has become a liability to the ruling party.

At a news conference Wednesday in Abuja, newly-appointed state Chairman of the party, Col. David Imuse (retd) also announced the suspension of the Secretary to the State Government SSG,
Osarodion Ogie and the Anselm Ojezua who was before now the chairman of the party.

Ojezua had on Tuesday announced the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, but the Imuse-led executives said Ojezua was no longer the chairman as at the time he announced Oshiomhole’s suspension.

Imuse who was flanked by other state executive committee members of the party added that “the purported suspension of Mr. Lawrence Okah and his subsequent removal from office is a nullity and we hereby pass a vote of implicit confidence on him and so he remains the State secretary of All Progressives Congress APC, Edo State Chapter”.

Some of those who attended the briefing were the party secretary, Lawrence Okah, APC Vice Chairman for Edo South, Benson Edomsowan, state Treasurer, Saliu Momoh, the state Woman Leader, Betty Okoebo Benson and others.

Speaking further, Ojezua said; “In light of the foregoing, it has become obvious that Mr. Obaseki has become a liability to the All Progressives Congress APC.

We cannot longer fold our arms and watch him drag our collective political fortunes into the abyss in his desperate bid to destroy the Party.

The only option is to protect the interest of all stakeholders who have labored assiduously to build up the Party.

“Consequently, we hereby pass a vote of no confidence on Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki and his leadership team comprising Hon. Phillip Shaibu (Dep. Governor) and Osarodion Ogie (Secretary to Government) and they are hereby suspended from the Party.

“We wish to use this medium to put the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies on notice that members of the State Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo State were harassed and hounded out of Benin City following the vote of no confidence passed on Anselm Ojezua.

Thugs and hoodlums were mobilized to our houses in the dead of the night, and some others were stationed at strategic locations including the Benin Airport”.

The executives described as an unknown party organ, the group which purportedly announced the suspension of Comrade Oshiomhole.

“We note with grave concern a resolution by an unknown organ of APC in Edo State claiming to have passed a vote of no confidence on the National Chairman Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole and suspending him from the Party.

This development would have been laughable if it did not have serious implications for the overall integrity of our Party.

Their decision is unconstitutional and it is unheard of, for a lower level Party hierarchy official to want to take disciplinary action against an official or organ on a higher level.

We therefore pass a vote of implicit confidence on the National Chairman Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole and the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress APC.

“We wish to reiterate our position that Edo All Progressives Congress (APC) was plunged in this crisis by the unguarded actions and inflammatory statements by Anselm Ojezua.

“Thuggery and political violence has spiked and escalated in the pursuit of the second term ambition of Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy Mr. Philip Shuaibu.

“This is exemplified by the various incidence of the attack on the Benin residence of the National Chairman, the congregation of thugs on motorbike that were led by Hon. Philip Shuaibu (Deputy Governor) to the convocation of Edo University lyamho, the mayhem that was visited on the political meeting in Owan East LGA.

On 18th June, 2019, members of our Party who were elected into the Edo State House Assembly were violently attacked by armed thugs led by the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the Governor, Mr. Nwokolo.

“There is clear and unambiguous evidence by the admission of the Governor himself that he actively supported and worked with opposition candidate in areas where his favoured aspirants did not pick the party ticket.

This pattern of anti-party activities led to widespread electoral loses in Edo South Senatorial District including the Ward and Local Government of the Governor where we lost.

END