Allegations of anti-party, financial impropriety tear Esan Central APC apart

---As leaders engage in Suspensions, Counter-Suspensions

By Editor

March 21, 2023

Few days after the conduct of State House of Assembly elections in Nigeria, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State has been enmeshed in crisis over allegations financial impropriety and anti-party.

The crisis has resulted into suspension and counter-suspension of some leaders of the party in the locality.

The leaders affected in the imbroglio are the  State Vice Chairman of the party,  Chief Francis Inegbeniki, Prince Willy Shaka Momodu, Ward Leader, Hon Abudu Ugbesia, Hon Victor Edoror and six others.

While Chief Francis Inegbeneki and others were suspended for anti-party activities, Hon Victor Edoror, the party's candidate in the election was suspended over an allegation of financial impropriety.

A statement by the party's leaders that suspended Chief Francis Inegbeneki and others announced the appointment of Hon. Bello Oyaziwolo, former Local Government Area Councillior and former  House of Assembly election aspirant, Hon. Bello Oyaziwolo, as the acting state vice chairman.

According to the statement, nine 

leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Esan Central LGA have been suspended at an extraordinary meeting held  at Irrua, the Local Government Area capital. 

"The suspended leaders include APC State Vice Chairman, Chief Francis Inegbeniki, Esan Central foremost Party Leader, Prince Willy Shaka Momodu, Ward Leader, Hon Abudu Ugbesia, among six others. 

"The suspended nine APC leaders are alleged to have held a clandestine meeting at a hotel in Eidenu, Irrua on the eve of the House of Assembly election and resolved to work against their party candidate for the House of Assembly election, Hon Victor Edoror. 

"It is alleged that they were induced by the ruling party and their grand conspiracy to disallow Hon Edoror to get into the House and become the Speaker which might scuttle their agenda for Esan governor candidate from Esan Central Local Government Area. 

"Interestingly, the Deputy Leader of the Party in Esan Central LGA and former Vice Chairman of the LGA, Hon Francis Ubene, was exempted from suspension because preliminary investigation revealed that he was in the meeting allegedly called by Chief Inegbeniki, but he refused to agree with their alleged plan to sabotage the election for Hon Edoror.

"Because according to him, I have forgiven him and if I have forgiven him, I cannot work against him or the party",it stated.

On his part, the allegedly suspended, Chief Francis Inegbeneki denied ever being suspended from the party.

In the statement, Inegbeneki said," there was never a meeting of the All Progressive Congress APC in Edo Central Senatorial District where such a a decision to suspend any leader was taken.

He  added that the only matter before the party was a petition received by the leadership of the party wherein one Hon Victor Edoror was accused of embezzling and stealing the sum of N2,162,053.75, being property of the party.

He also added that a meeting was called by the Esan Central leadership of the APC where Victor Edoror was invited to defend himself on the allegations, but failed to attend and  as such was subsequently suspended from the party until he comes to absolve himself from the accusation leveled against him. 

"The attention of the State Vice Chairman has be drawn to a post  trending on  social media to the effect that nine members of APC in Esan Central LGA have been suspended. 

"I wish to state that the so called suspension is fake and of no effect. Party activities are not done on social media. The state Vice chairman  called on the general public to disregard the social media story

"The only matter before the party is a petition received by the leadership of the party wherein one Hon Victor Edoror was accused of embezzlement and stealing. 

"The bank statement detailing the transfer of the said money into Hon. Victor Edoror's bank account was also added to the Vice-Chairman's statement", he stated.