Ovia APC Members Accuse Chief Imasuen For Imposing Chairmanship Candidate On Them

Ovia APC Members Accuse Chief 

Imasuen For Imposing Chairmanship Candidate On Them

Iduozee Efe Paul, Benin 

Concerned group of APC party leaders and stakeholders in Ovia North East Local government area of Edo state have protested against imposition of candidate on them by former deputy governor of Edo state, Chief Lucky Eghosa imasuen.

 The group described  the imposition of a non-indigene and non-party member as the Executive Chairman  candidate of the council as uncalled for, and see it as a disgrace to their reputation which may to internal party crisis.

The group which assembled in Kings Square at ring road went to Edo State House of Assembly with different banners that carried Chief Lucky Imasuen faces and his nephew before they proceeded to APC State Secretariat at GRA, and ended the peaceful protest in Government House.

Presenting a protest letter to the Assistant Edo State APC Secretary, Sam Oboh, the leader of the protesters, Lugard Enoma, said they have 23 aspirants vying for the position of chairman in the local government, and Chief Lucky Imasuen did not pick any of them, instead he went and pick his nephew (Christopher Eriamatoe) and imposed it on them.

He said what Chief Imasuen's would have done is to lobby them that he has a nephew that he would have like to contest the election instead of imposing him on them.

They described his nephew as a refugee in Ovia North East local government. 

The letter read:""Our intention in writing is not to create division within the party but to safeguard the integrity, cohesion, and electoral strength of the APC in Ovia North East. 

"As loyal party members who have contributed immensely to the party's growth and success over the years, we consider it our responsibility to bring these concerns to your attention. 

"we are deeply concerned about the way the affairs of the party in Ovia North East are currently being handled by Chief Lucky Imasuen.

" Several decisions affecting the political structure of the Local Government appear to have been taken unilaterally without consultation with established party leaders and stakeholders who have worked tirelessly over the years to build and sustain the party’s presence and electoral victories in the area. 

" The selection of Ward Councillors, Supervisory Councillors, and other strategic political appointments is widely believed to have been carried out without meaningful consultation with long-standing party leaders in Ovia North East.

"These leaders have consistently laboured to ensure the party's success in elections, yet their experience and input appear not to have been considered in the current decision-Making process. 

"You may not be aware that Lucky Imasuen started his political career in Egor Local Government Area, and when he became frrelevant, he transitioned to an established structure in Ovia North East Local Government Area, which he superintends without consultation among the leaders. 

""It is troubling that there has been little or no effort to convene leadership meetings to discuss critical political issues affecting the Local Government. Political parties thrive on consultation, dialogue, and collective decision-making, and the absence of such engagement undermines the spirit of internal democracy that should guide their operations. 

"The implications of this situation extend beyond internal dissatisfaction. When a single individual exercises absolute authority over party structures and candidate selection without consulting other leaders or stakeholders.

 " It weakens internal party democracy, breeds feelings of marginalization among committed members, and diminishes the sense of collective ownership that is necessary for the party’s success. 

"We are  concerned about the developments surrounding the forthcoming Local Government chairmanship election. At one point, about 23 aspirants from Ovia North East expressed interest in contesting for the position. 

"It appears that none of these individuals has been considered worthy, as reports suggest that a preferred candidate, allegedly a close relation who recently returned from abroad and who has not actively participated in the political activities or electoral processes within the Local Government, has been positioned as the candidate without adequate consultation with party leaders and stakeholders," Enoma lamented.

Sam Oboh, Assistant State APC Secretary, Edo state appreciated them for the orderly conduct of their protest. He said protest is part of democracy that they should be able to air out their grievances whey they are not happy.

Sam Oboh said the state APC chairman is not around that whenever he comes the message will be convey to him. He said they are one party members and they should continue protest in a peaceful manner.

Also, addressed them in House of Assembly, the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Blessing Agbebaku thanked them for organising themselves, and for not allow hoodlums to hijacked the protest.

He commended them for not taking the law into their hands, that the matter should be channelled to the APC secretariat. He promised them the lawmakers will look into the issue.

Earlier, in government house the representative of government house said the issue is an inter-party affairs that would be resolved within the leaders of APC.

More so, when contacted in a telephone call with Chief Lucky Imasuen, dismissed the allegations, describing the protesters as paid agents of some political leaders in the community.