APC elders want all Benin aspirants disqualified

THE Committee of Concerned Elders Council in the APC has called on the National leadership of the party to disqualify all six governorship aspirants from Edo South senatorial district from this weekend’s primary contest for supposedly violating the principle of federal character.

The group accused the aspirants of breaching section 20 (2) (iii) of the constitution of the party which upholds the principle of “federal character, gender balance, geographical spread and rotation of office to as much as possible ensures balance within the constituency covered.”

The six aspirants include the deputy governor of the state, Dr. Pius Odubu, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Dr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, Emmanuel Arigbe-Osula and Prof. Amadasun Ebegue.

While arguing that it is the turn of the Edo Central senatorial district to produce the next governor of the state, the elders in a communiqué signed by Elder Collins Omoruyi (Edo South), Elder Steve Okougbo (Edo Central) and Elder Musa Friday (Edo North), warned that they may head to court if the Bini APC governorship aspirants are allowed to participate in the primaries.

According to the communiqué “it is important to note that in most recent Supreme Court judgments, it states that all political parties are bound to adhere by their party constitution and guidelines for the conduct of primary elections” the letter addressed to the national chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie Oyegun stated.