COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT : EDO APC KICKS AGAINST SEN. DOMINGO OBENDE'S INVOLVEMENT . . . Accusations are baseless . . . Sen. OBENDE.

By Mike ALADENIKA

As the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress APC perfects plans for the conduct of it's Nationwide registration and Revalidation exercise, the Edo state chapter of the party has petitioned it's National Secretariat  "to reverse the appointment of Senator Domingo Obende as Chairman, Niger State Registration committee because he is not a member of the APC."

In a statement issued in Benin City and  signed by the Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Col David Imuse, Rtd,  the party said the petition became necessary because, "Obende's appointment is causing a lot of ripples in Edo State because Senator Domingo Obende has since June last year ceased to be a member of our party in Akoko-Edo local government area of the state.

The statement accused Sen. DOMINGO OBENDE of "anti-party activities which were clearly aimed at bringing the APC into hatred and disunity amongst members and disorganization of the APC party structure in ward 2 in favour of the PDP, Obende was duly supended from the party by the Executive members of his ward in 2020." 

"We are not aware that Mr Obende's suspension has  been lifted, and that is obviously because he refused to purge himself of his gross involvement in anti-party activities especially his continuous encouragement of factionalization of the APC in ward 2 of Akoko Local Government Area of Edo State.

According to the statement "Rather, Senator Obende got all his supporters in his Akoko-Edo LGA to decamp to PDP in 2020. Even the money for the governorship election brought by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP  for the election in his local government area was disbursed in his residence at Igarra.

"The fact is Obende has since ceased to be a member of APC. Most of our party leaders and faithfuls in Edo State are threatening to jeopardize the forthcoming registration exercise and exit the party en mass if disloyalty is now the hallmark of recognition in the APC . 

"It is for the interest of our party, that Domingo Obende's appointment be reversed.  The morale of our members right now is at it's lowest ebb.  If Mr. Obende wants to revalidate his membership of the APC, he can do so in his unit during the forthcoming registration exercise".

In a related development, the APC EDO NORTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CAUCUS is also joining issues with the appointment of Senator DOMINGO OBENDE which they  "considered as a grave and provocative error that is capable to derailing and mortgaging the entire exercise if not urgently redressed, stressing that It must avoid grave errors that are capable of encouraging anger, frustration,  apathy even decamping. Our members in Edo, still frustrated by the grand conspiracy against the party at the last gubernatorial election, are now left wondering as to the meaning of this signal with Domingo Obende's selection.

In his reaction, Senator DOMINGO OBENDE who represented Edo North Senatorial District at the  7th Senate(2011-2015), faulted Imuse's claim which he described as baseless as well as  denying the charge of anti-party activities leveled ‎against him, insisting that he remained a bonafide member of the APC

According to Senator OBENDE "In November 2020, I was the‎ one that paid the one year rent for the APC Secretariat in Akoko-Edo, my local government.

"I make bold to say the allegations are baseless as nobody ever saw me in any meeting or rally organized by another party. The keys to my house in Igarra are with me and whenever I go home I enter my house. I didn't see anybody come to share money in my house.

Dr. DOMINGO OBENDE opened up saying "I supported Godwin Obaseki till the end‎ of his Membership of  the APC but we parted ways when he defected to the another party. So, I remain a member of my party, the APC".

He however wondered "why Imuse would make such allegation when as a member of the National Committee of the party I  played a role in the recent Ondo State

Governorship election."

"we are all aware that Imuse is a product of fractionalisation but because we had a respite that his coming may bring a new phase to the party. He should however know that the fact that  his legitimacy, as the caretaker chairman was not challenged does not  afford him the luxury of de registering authentic foundation members of our party". 

A good administrator would have seen it as a window of opportunity to reconcile all, so we can have a robust and winning Party in Edo State.

 "On the issue of Edo North Caucus, I am wondering whose script they’re really playing and what has suddenly awakened their consciousness  into a caucus?  Nobody has ever queried or question me on any issue that has to do with anti party activities. Every thing happening now is geared towards who get the Senate ticket  in Edo North. I will strongly advise them to relax and allow God to empower everyone in His own time rather than forcing the crown on a perceived head that might not be God’s own choice."

Senator DOMINGO OBENDE therefore, advised Imuse and the Edo APC to use the ongoing membership registration to attract more people to the party to rebuild it ahead of 2023 and avoid de-registering members and scattering the party.

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