Oshiomhole Aides,Oba Of Benin Sons Leave APC

Former Secretary to the Edo State Government, SSG, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu yesterday made good his threat to dump the All Progressives Congress, APC. He left the party with the son of Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa and former chairman of Oredo Local Government Area, Prince Ekpen Erediauwa and several aides to Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
Until he left the APC, Ize-Iyamu was the leader of the Alaghodaro Group within the APC fold.
Others who left the APC and Oshiomhole’s government were 14 aides, 3 directors and a board chairman.
Also on Ize-Iyamu’s train were Chief Tony Omoaghe, a former state chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Chief Amos Osunbor, Chief Evelyn Omokhodion, Director of Edo State Poverty Eradication Agency , one-time Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Bright Omokhodion and a former Commissioner, Mr. Philip Olumese.
Omoaghe who read the resignation of the APC leaders along with over 5.000 members, said:
“We have resolved to massively resign our membership of the APC and we hereby resign same with effect from today (yesterday). We will decide our next line of action in a few days.
He urged the people of the state to keep faith alive and support them with prayers in the “next decision which we shall take”.
Last week the defecting APC leaders with their supporters from across the state called on Governor Oshiomhole as leader of the party to relinquish control and monopoly of party structure.
They said their decision was made after a meeting, where they accused the governor of using some of his political appointees to intimidate APC faithful, stressing that the party desired a system that respects the sanctity of internal democracy.
Omoaghe who read the communiqué then said: “We need a system that is devoid of deliberate sponsorship of rancour and fictionalization within the party and recognizes the worth of all party faithful across the state.”
He said since assuming office, the governor had subdued the practice of internal and participatory democracy in the state.
“It is on record that he single-handedly handpicked party candidates for last year’s local government council elections in the state”.