Unconfirmed report is pointing to an endorsement by the caucus of Edo Federal Legislators for the embattled All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole.
The report stated that the group led by the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Peters Akpatason, flanked by Johnson Oghuma and Julius Ihonvbere addressed journalist at the National Assembly complex on Thursday.
The press statement which was allegedly read by Mr. Akpatason was signed by three others, including Sen Francis Alimikhena, Patrick Aisoweiren, and Dennis Idahosa described the suspension of Oshiomole as poor judgement on the part of the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki.
In the statement, they reportedly accused the governor of political witchhunt and intimidation of opponents.
Part of the said statement reads: “It is now well known that the crisis has its origin with the nocturnal, illegal and unconstitutional inauguration of a handful of elected members of the House of Assembly, as orchestrated by the Governor Godwin Obaseki administration. Of the 24 members of the House, only Seven were invited with the pseudo-proclamation of Obaseki.
“The majority of the elected members were not invited to the event, while some were abducted to the event. It was the first such inauguration in the rich history of the state were an inauguration was not witnessed, by family, party leaders and members, as well as well-wishers.
“Obaseki and his management, for some rather strange reason generated, swallowed and believed that the majority of the elected members were not loyal to the Governor and were out to impeach him. Preceding this illegal act by the Governor, unprecedented violence had been unleashed on the majority 15 members at Golden Tulip Hotel in Benin City by thugs led by the Govenor’s Chief Security Officers.”
The report added that “within a short time, all those perceived not to be loyal to the governor and his deputy were sacked from their jobs. These included commissioners, special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants, and supervisory councilors.
“Four Local Government Chairmen were framed on dubious grounds and also removed from office. The governor and his deputy abridged the rights of APC members to freely associate and organize themselves and threatened the leaders of the Edo Peoples Movement (EPM), a socio-cultural pressure group within the party.
“Their businesses were marked for demolition and their homes monitored by thugs.”
According to the report, the group also slammed the deputy governor of the state, Philip Shuiabu.”