…SAYS ANY PERSON FROM ETSAKO WEST IS FREE TO CONTEST
The members of the Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo North Senatorial District of Edo State on Monday, said there was never a time the party Executives endorsed the former Governor of the State, Mr Adams Oshiomhole for Senate.
Disassociating themselves from the purported endorsement of the former APC National Chairman, the Executive members said they honoured Oshiomole’s invitation to his 70th birthday anniversary as party members, which was also attended by other party faithfuls across the district and nothing more.
The Executive members stated that the only thing that could be alleged to be an endorsement at the event was the zoning of the Senate seat to Etsako West, adding that the motion was opposed by some of the executive members present at the occasion.
In a communique signed by 24 executive members across the district after their meeting in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, on Monday, they said that the alleged endorsement of Oshiomole was the handwork of Jarret Tenebe, the State Deputy Chairman of the APC and Alhaji Abubakar Akhokia, Etsako West Chairman of the party.
“The only significant thing that could be likened to an endorsement at the event was a motion to zone the Senate seat to Etsako West which was resisted by some of the Executive members present at the occasion.
“The argument was that you can’t move the senate from Etsako East to West, what about Owan that last had it between 2007 and 2011 and also Akoko-Edo why had had it between 2011 to 2015 while it has been in Etsako since then.
“Efforts to challenge the sinister declaration was met with brutality on some party excecutives, including Mrs Oikelomen Alice (Owan West LGA Woman Leader).
“If what happened at Iyamoh is what have been turned into purported endorsement of Oshiomhole for senate in 2013, then we are surprised.
“It would be undemocratic for Oshiomhole to fall for this shenanigans because it is the turn of Owan to get the senate seat if at all it will be taken away from the present occupant, Francis Alimikhena from Etsako East.
The Executive members in their communique, reinterated the fact that there was nothing like endorsement adding that any interested persons from the district should subject themselves to an open primaries to decide the party’s ticket for the Senate.
According to the communique, those in attendance at the meeting were drawn from Owan West, Owan East, Etsako East, Etsako West, Etsako Central and Akoko-Edo.
The communique had the following as some of the signatories: Francis Ozoya (Secretary Ward 3,Owan East), signed by Mr Francis Ozoya(Youth Leader Ward 3, Owan-East), Onaivi Alabi(Auditor, Ward 1, Akoko-Edo), William Patrick (Asst.Secretary Ward 8, Akoko-Edo) and Chief Lucky Agbu (Chairman Ward 3 Etsako-East).
