The crisis rocking the Edo state Chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has deepened following decision of the state party executives to withdraw support for the party’s governorship candidate, Osaro Onaiwu.
This is coming three days after National Chairman of the party, Mr. Victor Oye, suspended the entire Edo state executives of the party for alleged anti-party activities.
But the suspended party executives in a press statement issued in Benin yesterday said actions, inactions and omissions of Onaiwu amounted to anti-party activities.
The statement signed by the party’s state chairman, Godfrey Ehizokhale Ehimhen and State secretary, Aifuobhokhan Emmanuel, said they have not been impressed by the actions of Onaiwu since he joined the party after he resigned as the Director General of the Governor’s Forum.
Among the reasons listed for the decision, according to the statement, included lack of respect for the party authority, assault and humiliation of leaders of the party and plans to use ‘stooges’ to administer APGA finances to agents during the elections.
It said the party executives would channel their energy and time towards other political ventures and warned all its party members ahead of the forthcoming Edo governorship election to play by the rules to avoid sanctions.
When contacted for comments, Onaiwu said he was on his way to Benin from electioneering campaigns.
When asked to comment through the phone because of time, he retorted, “Otabor, go ahead and publish the report. You are stupid. I told you I am coming and you are still talking.”
Candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the rescheduled governorship election in Edo state, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, has said that the party executives which withdrew support for his ambition were greedy the same way he accused his key men of being greedy when he was a PDP governorship aspirant.
Onaiwu described statements by the APGA state executives as laughable and show of ignorance.
A statement sent through electronic mail, Onaiwu wondered on whose authority the party executives acted after the have been expelled from the party by the National leadership of APGA.
The APGA candidate urged all supporters of APGA to stay resolute and not be distracted by ‘baseless rumours and gimmicks by some greedy people.’
He was reacting to a press statement signed by state executives of the party in which they opted to withdraw support for Onaiwu
