By Alltimepost.com
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]ll Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairmanship ambition of the former Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has suffered a major setback as Delta State APC has dissociated itself from his purported endorsement by the South-South APC.
The branch said in a strongly worded statement, signed by its State Deputy Chairman, Chief Cyril Ogodo that it was aligning itself with the position of APC Chapters of Rivers, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa, dissociating themselves from the “fake, dishonorable and undemocratic endorsement of Comrade Oshiomhole as the choice of the South South Zone for National Chairman of APC.”
“It is a crying shame that one who aspires to the National Chairmanship of our great Party will employ such underhand and sinister method to promote his objective. This is because the meeting at which this very important decision was made excluded the National Chairman, ministers, and many other key stake holders of the Party and was held at the Edo Government House in Benin City and not the accepted zonal headquarters which is Port Harcourt.”
Oshiomhole being the primary beneficiary of the decision and supported by the Edo State Government must have contrived this meeting to procure the fake endorsement, Delta APC said.
“The National Vice Chairman by allowing himself to be used for this desperate and despicable job has disgraced his office. This is a great blow to the democratic tradition that the APC has labored so had to build so far,” it bemoaned
“The Delta APC and it’s leadership did not at any time discuss the matter of endorsement of any aspirant for the position of National Chairman because the incumbent HE Chief John Oyegun, is a worthy son of our Zone who has performed creditably and should be given the right of first refusal.”
“The leader of our State chapter Olorogun O’tega Emerhor and other senior stake holders have confirmed that the fake endorsement was never discussed with them and also dissociate themselves from the endorsement coming from the Edo Government House.
“Delta State APC hereby strongly reaffirms its support for the national leadership of the Party and the strict adherence to due process and constitutional order in the affairs of the Party.”
Meanwhile a reliable source close to Edo State APC told Alltimepost.com that Oshiomhole’s purported endorsement by the state caucus of the party was a fraud as many stakeholders were not aware.
The source said that a former governor of the state, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor and a serving Minister of State for Health in the current Buhari administration, Professor Osagie Ehanire were present at the meeting where the endorsement purportedly took place, but they were not aware of such decision.
Contacted from the United States over the phone today, Professor Ehanire was not willing to speak on the issue, saying he was in a meeting. He further said: “I would refer you to the information department,” and hung up the phone.
Also, the former Governor of the state, Professor Osunbor hung up the phone the moment he was asked to speak on the issue. All further efforts to reach him proved abortive.
It would be recalled that Edo State Chairman of the APC, Barr. Anselm Ojezua disclosed on Monday that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was unanimously endorsed by the state caucus of the party to contest for the national chairmanship of the party in its forthcoming national convention. The meeting where such decision was taken was said to have been held at the Government House in Benin City, last weekend.
Some hours, following the disclosure, it was reported that the South-South Zonal Executive Committee of the APC equally threw its weight behind the ex-Governor of the state for the position.
The National Vice Chairman, APC South-South Zone, Ntufam Eta, disclosed this to journalists in Benin following what he said was a meeting of executive members of the party in the zone, held in Benin City.
Eta said the majority of South-South Zonal executive committee members present at the meeting decided on the Edo position, which is the adoption of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to carry the flag of the Party.
