The crisis that has continued to hold back the Nigeria’s governing All Progressives Congress (APC) from sustaining or managing its sweeping 2015 general elections victory may have worsened, as a faction of its Edo State chapter, loyal to the embattled national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Wednesday defied all efforts at resolution and suspended the membership of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The APC faction also suspended the Deputy Governor, Philip Shuaibu, and the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie for alleged anti party activities.
A chieftain of the party, Mr. Patrick Ikhariale stated this while briefing journalists in Benin City on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, a faction of the party, loyal to Obaseki suspended the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole after passing a vote of no confidence on him.
Announcing the suspension in a meeting at the residence of Gen. Charles Airhiavbere in Benin, Ikahriale who read the speech on behalf of Edo Peoples Movement, an arm of the APC, said Obaseki, his deputy, Shuaibu; Anslem Ojezua and Osarodion Ogie (SSG), from available information from top leaders of the PDP, had concluded plans to defect from the APC and seek re-election on that platform.
“For us, the authentic APC stakeholders in Edo State, we wholeheartedly denounce such. We wish to state that at the appropriate time, the APC National Working Committee will initiate the process of party primaries for the selection of the party’s gubernatorial candidate.
“We will abide by the guidelines for such primaries as the constitution of the party vests the responsibility of conducting primaries on the NWC. We are prepared to give every aspirant equal opportunity to test their popularity. We will resist any attempt to close the political space,” Ikahriake said.
According to him, “consequently, we hereby suspend Governor Godwin Obaseki, Hon Phillip Shuaibu and Barr. Osarodion Ogie from the party for anti-party activities and urge the National Working Committee to set the machinery in motion for further disciplinary action against them.”
In the meantime, the APC governors have given Oshiomhole an ultimatum to call for a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to resolve the party’s challenges emanating from these various suspensions or resign.
