Edo APC crisis deepens with the suspension of National chairman, Oshimhole

Ebun Francis| The crisis in the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) deepened on Tuesday with purported the suspension of the party’s national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

The decision followed the vote of no confidence reportedly passed on Oshiomhole by the Chairmen of the APC in the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

According to a statement jointly signed by the APC Chairman and Assistant Secretary in Edo, Anselm Ojezua and Ikuenobe Anthony, respectively, the APC national chairman was suspended for his alleged role in the crisis rocking the state chapter of the party.

The statement read, “Consequent on the development, the State Executive Committee has adopted the vote of no confidence passed on him and the subsisting suspension order from the organs of the party in the state.

“The vote of no confidence on Oshiomhole and the suspension are the fallout of his role in trying to disintegrate the party in Edo State.”

The statement further stated that the suspension was necessary to prevent a repeat of what happened in Zamfara State, where the APC was unable to field any candidate in 2019 general elections.

“Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is the one behind the crisis in Edo APC. We have passed a vote of no confidence in him and he stands suspended from the party.

“We don’t want what happened in Zamfara State or other parts of the country to happen in Edo State,” the statement continued.

But in another statement jointly signed by the Chairman of the body and Etsako West Chairman, Ibrahim Akokia, as well as his Etsako Central and Owan West counterparts, Suleiman Bagudu and Lugard Alukpe respectively, the 18 LGA Chairmen of APC in Edo distanced themselves from Oshiomhole’s suspension.

According to them, they were not aware of such a meeting where a vote of no confidence was passed on Oshiomhole who they said was “doing very well”.

They accused the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, of harassment and intimidation, stating that his actions could pull down the APC in the state.

The chairmen, therefore, called on the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to expel Governor Obaseki from the party over allegations of anti-party activities.