Crisis rocks Edo APC over suspension of party members, leaders

AGENE GODWIN, Benin

Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress(APC) has become enmeshed in another round of crisis following the suspension order slammed on some of the state party leaders

The party suspended about 30 state leaders including ward chairmen and secretaries over various offenses.

The State Working Committee of the party had among others, in an emergency meeting, ratified the expulsion and suspension of the State party youth leader, Mr Osakpamwan Eriyo and others.

Equally suspended are Chief Francis Inegbeneki, Chief Henry Okoror, vice chairman of the party (Edo Central) and Hon. Kenneth Ihensekhien over illegal detention and holding hostage of the State Chairman, Barr. Anslem Ojezua at the ancestral home of the vice chairman.

But in a swift reaction, Francis Inegbineki said the State Party Chairman, Barr. Anslem Ojezua lacks the power to suspend him, adding that he can only be suspended by the ward party leaders who have the constitutional right to suspend him.

He said Ojezua became uncomfortable and started exploring illegal means to suspend him the moment he was unanimously adopted as the party leader in Edo Senatorial District in a motion moved by a former commissioner in the state at a meeting well attended by party members and leaders precisely on January 2nd in Uromi, the administrative headquarters of Esan North East local government area.

He said he became the object of attack having accused the party chairman of embezzling the party’s funds during the last Governorship election in addition to engaging in anti-party activities.