As politicians struggle for power in the forthcoming elections aspirants to the Edo State House of Assembly under the auspices of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have protested what they regarded as the imposition of candidates and undemocratic tendencies of the leadership of the party in the state.
Specifically, the aspirants, notably from Edo North and South senatorial districts accused the chairman of the party in Edo State, Colonel David Imose (Rtd) of dictatorial tendencies which they added was a fallout of his military orientation.
A spokesperson for the aspirants, Mr. Stephen Imokhuede Ohimai from Owan West Constituency said that at a meeting called in Benin City yesterday, Imose informed them that the 14 members of the state House of Assembly who were not inaugurated have been given the right of first refusal in line with the directive of the National Chairman of APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
According to him, “What we saw today (yesterday) is autocratic; we are not in a military regime; that a chairman of a party will come forward and say that this is what we have decided; this party is being governed by a constitution.
“He even said that this is what we have decided; that those 14 members must return.”
The aspirants said that they were aggrieved because injustice was being visited on them.
Aspirants present at the press conference included Jimoh Osagiede from Oredo East; Victorian Amu from Owan West; Jegede May from Owan East and Franklin Agbonnohen from Ovia North East constituency.
Calls to the phone lines of the APC chairman and the State Publicity Secretary, Barr Peter Uwadia were not responded to.
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