By Patrick Ahanor
Benin City
Governorship candidates of allied political parties in Edo state 2012 governorship poll on have faulted the recent membership registration and ward congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, declaring that the “exercise was characterised by fraud and insincerity.”
The group, in a press statement endorsed by Comrade Andrew Igwemoh (Labour Party), Paul Orumwense (National Conscience Party) and Frank Ukonga of Social Democratic Party, accused Governor Adams Oshiomhole of “deliberate attempt to alienating the former vice National Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.”
Besides, the ex-governorship candidates explained that “the ingratitude and winner-takes-all attitude of Governor Adams Oshiomhole has relegated the Allied Group and other relevant stakeholders who ordinarily should have been accorded some respect.”
The group said: “We are aware that the structure and platform that saw the emergence of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as the candidate and later as governor of Edo state were put in place by the founding members of the ACN under the leadership of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.”
Reacting to the allegation, the interim spokesman for the APC, Comrade Godwin Erhahon, said the group lack the locus standi to interfere in the internal affairs of a party they don’t belong.