APC at crossroads in Edo

• Shaibu, Erhahon dare Oshiomhole

By EBEN ENASCO KINGSLEY, Benin City

THE crisis brewing in Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC), following the suspension of the State Vice Chairman and Senatorial Leader in Edo South, Mr. Gentleman Amego, over alleged anti-party activities, is deepening and festering. Godwin Erhahon, APC State Publicity Secretary, and Phillip Shaibu, Oshiomhole’s political godson and member of the National Assembly, have opposed Oshiomhole’s suspension of Gentleman Amegor, the State APC Vice Chairman and Leader of Edo South APC caucus.
It was gathered that in a statement by Pa Ogbomo Henry Okhuarobo, Henry Idahagbon, Mr. Vincent Uwadiae, Chief Benson Osifo and other leaders of the Edo South APC caucus in the state said that its decision to suspend Gentleman Amegor was reached at a meeting held in Benin City.
But in a swift reaction, Amegor described the purported suspension as nullity, saying that all the allegations against him were “baseless and without foundation;” adding that, “those who signed the statement are mainly decampees from another party who enjoy crisis situations.”
The party leaders and allies of Adams Oshiomhole alleged that Amegor failed woefully in organising the affairs of the party in Edo State, which according to them, led to the party’s failure to win majority of the National Assembly seats in the last general elections.
The leaders, meanwhile, set up a five-man disciplinary committee chaired by Rev. Michael Egharevba, to investigate the allegations. Former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Uyi Igbe, will serve as Secretary.
Meanwhile, the state party leadership, through the Publicity Secretary, Godwin Erhahon, and a member of the House of Representatives, Philip Shuaibu, both of whom were in the kitchen cabinet of Adams Oshiomhole, in apparent affront against the governor, insisted that Amegor remains the State Vice Chairman of the party, saying that those who signed the suspension letter were not executive members of the party.
According to Erhahon, “Amergor remains our Vice Chairman. I am one of the foremost leaders in Edo South, therefore, all those who signed the documents cannot claim to be higher leaders of the party from Edo South. I see those who signed that statement as swindlers who want to take advantage of the crisis. I want all the aspirants to think of peace after the primaries and we must avoid all antagonism after the primaries.”