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Tag: Edo APC

  • Edo APC: A divided house

    Edo APC: A divided house

    The suspension of some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has escalated the crisis rocking the chapter. Some party leaders are urging Governor Godwin Obaseki to broker reconciliation to avert the decimation of the chapter. OSAGIE OTABOR reports.

    All is not well with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State. Many members have been suspended for alleged anti-party activities. Many party leaders are at loggerheads with their supporters over nominations for appointments into Governor Godwin Obaseki Executive Council. Unlike in the past when appointments were made without input from the party that brought the government to power, Obaseki has opted to make his appointments from nominations by the units and wards.
    The governor, however, listed the guidelines that the political  nominees must meet. Among the criteria are that the nominee must be a graduate, must have won his or her unit in the governorship election and must have attended 50 per cent ward meetings. Each of the nominees is to be screened by leaders of the party at the various units, wards and local governments.
    Besides, Obaseki made it clear on the day he assumed office that he would focus more on governance than politics. To back his words with action, he barred politicians from coming to the government house for meetings or without prior appointments.
    Crisis erupted in Edo APC in February when some top leaders in Edo Central Senatorial district were suspended. Those suspended were State Vice Chairman (Edo Central), Chief Henry Okoror, Chief Francis Inegbeneki, Hon Kenneth Ihensekhien, Hon Henry Okpamen, Chief Priest Francis Ubene, Mr. Anthony Ibhafidon and Mr. Desmond Egbadon.
    Edo Central comprises five local government areas, which are the strongholds of the People Democratic Party (PDP). In 2011, former Governor Adams Oshiomhole sacked political appointees from Edo Central over the failure of the party to secure victory in the zone at the general elections. APC won elections in the five local government areas in the 2012 re-election because of Oshiomhole’s performance in his first term. Since then, the APC is yet to find its feet in Edo Central.
    The quest for a leader that could rally support for the APC in Edo Central led to the crisis and the suspension of some party leaders in the zone. Trouble started when some of the leaders attempted to name Inegbeneki as the party leader. But, it was resisted by the State Chairman, Anselm Ojezua.
    At a meeting in the zone organised by Chief Okoror, a former Commissioner for Agriculture,  Ken Ihensekhien moved a motion that Chief Inegbineki should be the senatorial leader that would rally other members in future elections.
    Ojezua explained that he rejected the issue of having a party leader because it was unknown to the party’s constitution.
    The meeting ended in chaos.
    All the leaders involved in the nomination of Inegbeneki were suspended for allegedly abducting Ojezua and undermining the constitution of the APC at Uromi, Esan North local government on January 2. A statement by the State Working Committee said the suspended leaders illegally detained and hold Ojezua hostage in the residence of Chief Okoror.
    In Oredo, the State Youth Leader of the APC, Comrade Osakpamwan Eriyo and 23 executive members were suspended for alleged indiscipline. Comrade Eriyo was replaced with Mr. Valentine Asuen.
    The crisis in Uhunmwode local government was caused by the truggle for the supervision of the commissioners nomination process between a former Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Charles Idahosa, and some APC leaders, led by a former Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon Samson Osagie. This led to the submission of two lists of nominees to Obaseki.
    On April 1, a letter signed by the Secretary, Chief Osaro Idah, said the party has ratified the suspension of Hon Osagie, Mr. Josef Omorotiomwan, a former Council Chairman, Roland Alari and 27 others for anti-party activities. That was four months after the chairman of the APC in Uhumwonde, Harrison Oyegue, backed by Idahosa, suspended the leaders for allegedly working against the APC during the governorship election.
    There were protests from Owan East and Estako East by members over the manner names of nominees for appointments were made.
    Despite the protest and gale of suspension, Obaseki appeared to have stuck to his policy of separating politics from governance. He avoided holding meetings with the warring factions or any individual but rather set up a committee headed by Professor Dennis Agbonlahor to look into the complaints and screen those nominated.
    Reacting to his suspension, Inegbeneki said only the ward executive could suspend him or any other member of the party.
    He said Ojezua was against him because some party leaders made him the leader of the party in Edo Central.
    Youth leader of the APC in Ward Nine, Esan Central local government,  Monday Ojeaga, urged National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, to intervene in the crisis.
    He said: “We believe Anslem Ojezua and a few cabals are on a serial mission to destroy the party in Edo state so that the PDP can take over this state. How else can one explain what is happening, why is it that it is this period when all APC members are suppose to rally round governor Godwin Obaseki to win the case in tribunal, that they are chasing people away from the party?
    “We call on the leadership of the party in the state and National Headquarters to intervene in this issue. We cannot watch our leaders being embarrassed in this manner, and a few destroying the party.”
    Hon Osagie, who described his suspension as illegal, ill-motivated and of no effect, said it was proof that the reign of impunity has taken over the APC in Edo.
    He said: “The State Secretary, Chief Osaro Idah, who illegally ratified a notice of suspension knows the truth in the matter. It’s a fall out of the last governorship primary in which I played a prominent role in support of former Deputy Governor Pius Odubu as against the incumbent Governor.
    “For him and his cousin Hon. Charles Idahosa it is payback time for daring to disagree with them on who Uhunmwode delegates should support in the primaries. After the primaries together with others we worked for the party’s victory in Uhunmwode.
    “It is important to let the public know that neither myself nor any of those allegedly suspended with me was ever invited by any organ of the party for the purpose of trial for alleged anti party activities.”
    “The Omorotiomwan-led faction of Uhunmwode APC removed Idahosa as the Leader of the party in the locality and accused the state leadership of bias in handling the crisis in the party.
    Acting Chairman of the party in Uhunmwode Monday Okpeki said the APC leadership did not follow the provisions of article 21 of the APC Constitution, which clearly spells out the modalities for disciplining erring members.
    “In all seriousness , we do not intend to allow ourselves to be used as a football by political nitwits in their struggle for naked power. This underscores the need at this point to show you the type of political liabilities who are purporting to suspend serious-minded people in a serious political party.
    “We challenge Charles Idahosa to show evidence that he has ever won in his polling unit. The antics of this political mercenary are that he keeps extorting the party and its members without any regard for the party’s fortunes. He remains an electoral liability that must be ignored.”
    Osagie said Obaseki must show interest in the running of the APC so that some individuals will not create problems for his administration
    He said: “A governor cannot ride on the platform of a party to governance and then, totally neglect or run away in the running of the affairs of the party. There are dire political consequences for that action because those he will leave it to will create political problem for him. They will use the party to take political decision that can create instability for his government. Governance that is party-based cannot be separated midway. It will be my advice for him not to allow people to create confusion for his government because that can affect the performance of his administration.
    “It is because these persons are capitalising on the policy of the governor to concentrate on governance rather than partisan politics. They are exploiting what looks like a gap. If you go down the records, the people behind this are almost political liabilities, who cannot produce results during election periods. In order to sustain their hold on party politics and party position, they have resorted to suspending people they believed are threat to their local positions.”
    Idah said those suspended from the party showed disrespect for the party leadership at their various wards by refusing to appear before a committee set up to look into allegations raised against them.
    Idah added: “It is not my business to suspend anybody. Mine is to affirm. Let those affected go to their constituencies and appear before the constituted authorities at that level. It is not the State or National APC that will absolved them of blame. They should go to their Ward executives and explain to them. By the time, they take a decision and you felt that the local executive is biased, we will look into any abnormalities. It is not a situation when the local executives will call them, they will say they are too small. In this party, we are all equals.”

  • Edo APC suspends spokesman

    Edo APC suspends spokesman

    EDO State chapter of the All Progressive Congress has suspended the party’s Publicity Secretary, Comrade Godwin Erhahon, for allegedly causing embarrassment to the party. Comrade Erhahon was suspended for allegedly disparaging the former governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in an interview he reportedly granted to Tell Magazine recently.

    The state Chairman of the party, Barr. Anselm Ojezua, who briefed newsmen on the outcome of its extra-ordinary meeting said, the decision to suspend Comrade Erhahon was unanimous. Barr. Ojezua explained that several statements issued by Erhahon on behalf of the party were not authorized and that the statements caused embarrassment to the party. He said Erhahon was given an opportunity to defend himself at the meeting before his suspension.

    Ojezua stated that the suspension would subsist pending when further disciplinary action would be taken against him. Contacted, Erhahon said he had no ill-feelings against the suspension since he had explained that the interview was granted in his personal capacity.

  • ‘Buhari should show interest in Edo APC’

    ‘Buhari should show interest in Edo APC’

    In this piece, Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Imma Ekpeneru urges President Muhammadu Buhari to halt the marginalisation of Edo Central District by considering the indigenes for appointments.

    The Edo State governorship election has come and gone and the outcome has left sweet and bitter memories. For those of us in the All Progressives Congress (APC), the outcome of the election has surely consolidated the hold of the party in the state, nay the country.

    It has helped to reverse perceptions that your popularity may have sunk on account of the torments that the economy is passing through at the present time. The election in Edo State showed that, though the people may be passing through difficulties, the factors and good wishes that brought you to power have not been eroded.

    We are in no doubt conscious of the bond that the president has for our state. A reflection of the bond the president has for our Edo State is underlined by the fact that Edo State was the first state that the president ever came to campaign since his inauguration.

    It is in the light of this strategic value that the president has for Edo State that we take time to address him on underlining issues that need to be addressed for the good of Edo State, for party unity and for the promotion of justice and equity and indeed, for the realisation of Mr. President’s long term objective of change in Nigeria.

    Of course, the fact that the APC won the governorship would seem to give the impression that all is well with the party in the state. This is far from so. Mr. President ought to know that what happened was that many party members and elders looked at the bigger picture, looked at where we were coming from and also took into consideration your presence at the campaign. These were the motivators that propelled the party to victory. It was not anyone’s solid work in the state as some have tended to canvass. The comrade governor may have performed compared to his predecessors in the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), but, as we all know, things have been very challenging for the APC administration in the second term.

    It is in the light of this that one would draw attention to the great injustice that has been directed to one section of the state; to wit, the Edo Central Senatorial District.

    There is no other way this injustice is seen than in the sharing of the stakes in our state, most pointedly as seen in the distribution of political offices both at the federal and at the state level.

    It is easily recalled that it was not until the eve of the election that the conscience of those in power was stirred to give Edo Central the symbolic position of Speaker of the House of Assembly. Before then Edo Central was completely excluded from the principal offices of state. The governorship and position of Secretary to the State Government were in Edo North, the positions of deputy governor and Speaker of the House were in Edo South. In the civil service it would be interesting to note that of the about 35 permanent secretaries in the state, only four are from Edo Central leaving Edo North and South to share about 30

    Even more, positions at the federal level have not been equitably distributed. The minister representing the state is from Edo South. the national chairman is from Edo South and the non-career ambassadorial position for the state has also gone to the favoured sections of the state. It is worthwhile to note that high level board positions and other positions of influence at both the federal and state levels have been so apportioned to make Edo Central look like an unwanted appendage of the state.

    The people of Edo Central are certainly not so. It is in this light that we appeal to Mr. President to evaluate the situation in Edo State and cause justice to bear through moral suasion, through his leadership of the party and other influence at his disposal to bring the people of Edo Central into the power equation in the state.

    One can say that our confidence in the present system to grant us a sense of belonging has long been frustrated and we call on the president to look beyond the current players and search out men and women of tenacity from Edo Central who have through thick and thin shown their connection to the people and have the capacity to bring about the long term change that brought you to power. The present arrangement in Edo will certainly not help Mr. President.

    • Ekpeneru

    writes from Lagos

  • Afegbua heads Edo APC Reconciliation Committee

    A Member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Malik Afegbua, has been named as chairman of the Reconciliation Committee for Edo State.

    Mr. Godwin Obaseki won the primary with a landslide victory.

    The Reconciliation Committee is to reach out to members who are aggrieved over the outcome of the primaries.

    Other members of the committee  are Hon. Lucky Imasuen,  Mr. Austin Omofuma,  Hon. Charles Idahosa,  Hon. Theophilus Okoh, Senator Domingo Obende and Hon. Lawrence Okah.

    The Chairman of the APC, Mr. Anselm Ojezua, in a statement, said the committee was inaugurated to position the party to confront the general election scheduled for September 10.

    Ojezua described the primary of as the most successful exercise ever conducted by the APC.

    The statement reads, “We remain eternally grateful to all Delegates ably led by the Comrade Governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole for the patience, perseverance and outstanding conduct throughout the process which lasted almost 24 hours.

    “The result of the election is a clear indication that the APC in Edo state is strong and united, contrary to the falsehood earlier peddled in the media that Edo State APC was in crisis.”

     

    “I have this morning inaugurated a Reconciliation Committee headed by Prince Malik Afegbua (member BOT) to reach out to all those who may have been affected one way or the other by processes leading to and including the primaries.”

     

  • Masari calls for reconciliation in Edo APC

    Masari calls for reconciliation in Edo APC

    The Chairman of the seven-man Committee that conducted the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary, Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari, has called for reconciliation in the chapter to prevent post-primary crisis.

    He said the chapter can only retain power, if members unite.

    Masari, who has submitted his report to the national leadership of the party,  said a reconciliation committee should be set up to pacify and unite aggrieved members.

    He said reconciliation will strengthen the party, ahead of the election.

    He said: “There is an urgent need for the Party to set up a high-powered reconciliation team to meet with the governor, all aspirants and other critical stakeholders to strengthen the party and restore harmony for a successful governorship election.

    “The committee commends the efforts of the Commissioner of Police, the Director, State Security Service, the Commandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and their men for the remarkable way they handled the entire exercise.

    “The committee hereby expresses its appreciation to the Party for finding its members worthy of such important assignment, and pledge the loyalty and commitment of all its members to the Party and the Nation.

    “The committee also appreciates the support of the Government of Edo State which aided it in the discharge of this assignment.”

    The APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who received the report at the National Secretariat in Abuja, thanked the committee for successfully conducting the primary.

    Other members of the committee included Hon. Andrew Uchendu (Secretary), Hon.  Yusuf Maianguwa, Dr. Tunde Esan, Alhaji Shuaibu Musa, Alhaji Ibrahim Soja and Mr. Amara Iwuanyanwu.

  • 2,873 delegates for Edo APC governorship primary

    2,873 delegates for Edo APC governorship primary

    2,873 delegates are expected to converge at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin city Saturday  to elect the governorship candidate of the All progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the September governorship election in the state.

    National Organising Secretary of the Party, Senator Osita Izunaso told The Nation in Abuja that the list was made of 2304 ward executive from the 192 wards, 468 local government executive from 18 local government areas of the state, 35 members of the state executive council of the party and 66 statutory delegates.

    However Chairman of the Edo primary Elections Appeals Committee, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele told The Nation that he will hold the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole to his words that there will be a level playing field for all the aspirants in today’s primary.

    Bamidele said even though there has been allegation the governor was supporting one of the aspirants, Governor Oshiomhole has consistently assured that there will be a level playing field for everybody, adding that if the governor can insist on a repeat of the Bayelsa primary because he felt things were not done properly, there was no reason to believe that the primary in Edo will not be free and fair.

    The former lawmaker said: “My expectation is that we have a primary election that is free, fair and transparent for all to see. This has become necessary due to the nature of our own democratic experience so far. We cannot really talk about democracy without internal party democracy.

    “The process of selecting a candidate for the party must be really transparent and must be such that at the end of the day, when a winner emerges, it will be easier to manage because everybody would have seen that there was fair play. It is always a very difficult situation to manage when aspirants are aggrieved.

    “Unfortunately in our own clime, hardly will people want to concede defeat. But if you make the process as transparent as possible, the generality of the people would have seen that the leadership of the party would do its best in ensuring that there was a fair process.

    “The setting up of the Appeals Committee was not done because of the expectations that there will be problem. It is better to go into this assuming that everything will be ok, but that will not be enough to stop the party from fulfilling electoral guideline and to meet the expectations of INEC and the courts. By tour expectations is that we have a primary that is free and fair.”

    He said further that “a number of aspirants have alleged that Oshiomhole has endorsed a particular aspirant. The leadership of the party has been in touch with him and up till this moment, he has continued to assure members of the party in Edo and the leadership of the party in Edo state that he was doing everything possible to ensure a level playing field for all the aspirants.

    “In any case, it goes beyond that because it is not going to be his words against the aspirants because he has nothing to do with the primary. The leadership of the party, through the National Working Committee is accepting responsibility for the primary and has set up the relevant committees to conduct the election. Another governor is going to conduct the election.

    “One thing that is important is that Governor Masari himself had been a victim if lack of transparency and I wouldn’t expect anything less from him. Governor Oshiomhole was in Bayelsa state handling a similar thing as the Chairman the Bayelsa state primary committee and he had to insist in a repeat of the primary after a winner was supposed to have emerged because he didn’t think the process was fair enough.

    “If he could do that in Bayelsa, I don’t see what will hinder the process in Edo stage because it is always easier to manage the fall out when you do the right thing and It is easier to talk to people and for the people to talk to their supporters. It is always complicated when the process is manipulated.

    “No matter what anybody think, I still believe that Governor Oshiomhole will not be in a position to negatively influence the primary election. Speaking from personal experience, I can tell how destructive and how bitter people can feel when they feel that you have manipulated the process of selecting a candidate in some cases.

    “The manipulation so could have been done long ago even before the primary itself. It could have happened at the level of selection of delegates or ward executives or state executive. That is why you see some congresses of the parties are characterized by so much violence.

    “The APC has learnt from the mistakes of the past, not mistakes as APC, but the component units that formed the party. Everybody is concerned about the situation in Edo, but we are all working at our best to ensure that at the end of the day, we are able to deliver the promises of the leadership of the party that there will be a level playing ground in the selection of the candidate of the party.

    “In a state where you have at least twelve aspirants, you should expect that there will be misgivings. But what will be most important will be how the leadership of the party respond to the situation as well as how party stakeholders from other parts of the country drafted to go and conduct the election conduct themselves and that is where the issue of appeal also comes in.

    “Every petition written by an aspirant ought to be accorded its priority and the petitioner given fair hearing. Anything short of this can only lead to political calamity.

    “You will be on the highway t nowhere if the human and materials resources are invested in an election and at the end of the day, you have people within the party engaging in anti party activities just because the leadership mismanaged the fall out. I want to hold the governor to his word and his promises that everybody will be have a level playing field.

    “The national working committee has released to us the list of delegates and so, no new delegates will be brought in by any of the parties. So, it is a process that is also standardized and all the committee members need to do is to stick to the rules and ensure that no one come to change the rules at the middle of the game. That will be easier to explain and defend.

    “Even if you are under pressure, you can only create more crisis by yielding to such pressure. But if you are able to stand your ground, you would not only have maintained the integrity of the process, but everyone involved will be known by their principled stand.”

  • Edo APC urges indigenes to get voter’s card

    All Progressives Congress (APC) Edo state chapter has appealed to all residents of the state who are not yet registered as voters to do so during the update of voters, register beginning from Wednesday June 22, till Monday June 27.

    According to Comrade Godwin Erhahon, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, every citizen who is 18 years old and above should understand that it is part of his/her civic duties to register as a voter as that would enable him/her choose rulers of their choice.

  • Edo APC primary ‘ll be transparent, says Obadan

    Edo APC primary ‘ll be transparent, says Obadan

    Former deputy governor of Edo State Rev.  Peter Obadan has assured the governorship aspirants that the primary will be very transparent. He said: “Let the best in character, experience and intellect emerge.”

    Obadan, who is a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the APC, in his democracy day message to the party, said: ”Beloved APC Edo State delegates, think before you make your choice from the list of aspirants who are aspiring to be governor. The APC has a system that manifests transparency. I conducted that of the Lagos State and I know that rigging is not feasible”.

    He added: “Voting is secretly done and it’s a case of conscience.  Let no man despise or intimidate you. Money may be offered to purchase your vote, but think. Find out if that aspirant has ever attended your meetings or related with politicians in the past before deciding to aspire to be our governor. Did you see him in the past presidential or governorship campaigns? Has he ever mounted the rostrum to campaign? Has he ever voted in his constituency? Why would such now seek the governorship crown? Monkey don work bamboo wan com chop. Think.  The country has moved beyond the politics of money. Our youths are now well read and can no longer be deceived with oratory jargon.”

    Ahead of the June 8 primary, some delegates from Ikpoba-Okha, Oredo, Owan West and Owan East local government areas have protested what they called intimidation and harassment by some of their leaders.

    In Ikpoba-Okha, the delegates complained about the threat by a commissioner at a meeting.

    The delegates lamented how the commissioner vowed to cage them from seeing other aspirants before the primary.

    One of them said: “This is not democracy. This is not one man, one vote as preached by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. This is not the slogan of let the people lead. We should be allow to vote according to our conscience. That is what democracy entails.”

    Also, Oredo local government delegates have their complaints. They lamented the threat and harassment by some leaders.

    Owan West and East delegates said a National Assembly member called them for a meeting last week and threatened to deal with any one who refuse to vote for a particular aspirant.

     

  • Assassination Attempt: Edo APC calls on Buhari to act

    Assassination Attempt: Edo APC calls on Buhari to act

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Edo state has sympathized with all victims of the violent attack on the gubernatorial aspiration campaign team of Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr Pius Odubu at Auchi, Headquarters of Esako West Local Government Area last weekend just as they called on president Muhammadu Buhari to fish out the culprits.

    APC expresses gratitude to God for preventing death so far from the attack and pray for speedy recovery for those who were wounded by gun shots from the hoodlums.

    According to Comrade Godwin Erhahon, State Publicity Secretary of the party, “We apologize to the victims and the public for the statements of some of our officials who sounded sadistic and conspiratorial in a feeble but self-indicting attempt to trivialize the near tragic incident. Their reckless and ungodly utterances do not represent the culture of APC.

    “It is saddening that these heartless officials could not sympathize with those who were wounded in the attack.

    Erhahon said the very godly and peaceful conduct of the Deputy Governor is highly commended as it is now obvious that he does not move about with thugs otherwise casualties would have been recorded on the side of the attackers and that could have helped the sadists and desperadoes to turn the story against him.

    “We commend all the other gubernatorial aspirants who have openly condemned the attack, particularly Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

    “APC appeals to the good people of Edo South to resist the temptation of viewing the attack on their illustrious son, the Deputy Governor as an ethnic plot knowing that godly leaders from Auchi and other parts of Edo North have unanimously condemned the attack.

    “We appeal to the national leadership of our great party and the presidency to rise to the challenge posed by the ugly trend in the ongoing campaign for the gubernatorial primaries of Edo APC.

    “APC prays God to sanitize the hearts of all those who have vowed to rather die or kill than see any aspirant other than their choice emerge as gubernatorial candidate.”

     

  • Emuan: Edo APC should field credible candidate

    Emuan: Edo APC should field credible candidate

    Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant Austin Emuan has urged the party to field a credible candidate in order to win the  election in the state.

    Speaking to The Nation, he said the party must provide a level playing ground during its primary, adding that only a popular candidate would lead the party to victory.

    He said: “All the aspirants must develop the spirit of sportsmanship. There should be no preference of one candidate to another by the power that be. There should be a level playing field.

    “This is one of the easiest ways to avoid a post primary crisis. For me, as an architect by profession, I have a creative mind. I don’t have a mind for violence. I know that most other aspirants are probably like me. So, it is advisable to ensure that there is a level playing field that everybody can see very clearly that the primary was done fairly. I will congratulate the winner myself.

    This must be taken seriously because a lot of people have said if there is no good candidate that the APC may lose the election in Edo State. I can also tell you that if someone like me came up as the party candidate, a lot of people will decamp in the PDP.”

    Emuan promised to bridge the gap between the government and the governed, noting that the people at the grassroots have been neglected for long.

    He added: “Our own idea is to see that in Edo State there is capillary democracy in place. It is something that we are used to, but at some point because we embraced the politics of despondency, we moved away from all of that. So, my own idea is to ensure that capillary democracy is brought back.

    “This is a model where you can actually govern the people correctly. There has to be free flow of uninterrupted information between the governed and the government; those that are in the executive position.

    “This is what has assisted countries like China. China as it is today has attracted the attention of others. America is beginning to look at their system of democracy because it is very close to the people.

    “This is what I have been doing, discussing with delegates, explaining to them one on one. I have been explaining my manifesto to them. The manifesto I call the people’s manifesto.

    “The people’s manifesto is a product of comprehensive status audit that I have carried out in Edo State, it indigenous and all about participatory grassroots system of democracy.”

    The aspirant said the allegation that the list of delegates would be tampered with was not true.

    Emuan stressed: “The rumour has been on for a very long time, this is one of the major reasons why our party in their infinite wisdom has actually called all the aspirants for a meeting. They call us to Abuja to reassure us that nobody is going to be able to do that.

    “They did stop there; they also met with aspirants, delegates and the governor himself. They explained to everyone that there will be nothing like that and there is not going to be anointed candidate. So, the issue of distorted list or master list of delegate is a rumour that is unfounded.

    “As far as I am concerned, the party has come out to clarify that nobody can do that. Of course, it came out in the papers sometimes ago that our National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, came out to say nobody can tamper with the list. The delegate list is going to come from Abuja.