The All Progressives Congress National Working Committee has sacked Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, as Chairman of the Edo State Gubernatorial Election Committee.

A revised list issued on Wednesday and signed by Suleiman Argungu, National Organising Secretary of the party, announced Cross Rivers State Governor Bassey Otu as Chairman of the seven-man committee.

The process declared inconclusive on Tuesday night by the party’s national leadership would produce a winner on Thursday.

In the team that conducted the controversial primary declared inconclusive by the Abdullahi Umar Ganduje-led NWC, the Cross Rivers State Governor was Deputy Chairman of the Committee.

Honourable Shettima Sheu replaced the Imo State Governor in the panel, which also has a former Osun State Deputy Governor as a member.

Checks revealed that the APC national chairman bowed to pressure from aspirants and stakeholders in Edo State.

In a statement signed by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Chief Lucky Imasuen, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and General Charles Airhiavbere (retd), they noted that the Imo state governor, who incidentally is the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Senator Hope Uzodinnma, supervision of the weekend election that has been declared inconclusive by the party national secretariat, breached provisions of the Electoral Act and the APC Constitution.

They therefore demanded that Senator Uzodinnma not be allowed to head the panel that would conduct the fresh primary.

“We strongly believe that whatever was responsible for his flagrant disregard for due process and unusual hasty declaration of unconfirmed fictitious results of the primaries outside the designated collation centre may not have abated from his mind and therefore may be repeated if given the opportunity to play the same role as chairman in the process.

“In the circumstances, we are calling on Mr President to kindly use his good offices to replace Senator Hope Uzodinma with any other respected member of our great party as chairman whom the President strongly believes will comply with the law, maintain internal democracy, and protect and defend the integrity and goodwill of the President that he has attained over the years that have endeared him to both national and international stakeholders.

“Furthermore, we believe that this is the only way to remedy the ridicule and embarrassment that Uzodinma’s tactless and overzealous behaviour, which in the view of keen observers of happenings in the ongoing process of nominating a viable candidate of our party, runs within the borderline of mischief and clotted with antidemocratic vestments, unknown to law.”

Source: Tribune Online

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