The National Working Committee, NWC, of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has set up a Fact-finding/Reconciliation Committee to address the growing crisis in the Edo State chapter of the party.
The decision was taken at the NWC meeting on Wednesday but the party Did not give the names of the members of the committee.
In the statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the NWC upheld the suspension of the Edo State APC chairman, Hon. Anslem Ojezua by the factional party executive in the state.
The factional state executive had on Wednesday suspended the state party chairman, Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, his Deputy, Hon. Philip Shuiabu and the Secretary to Edo State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie.
The NWC was, however, silent on the suspension of the governor, his Deputy and the SSG.
Onilu, in the statement, said: “The NWC has watched with grave concern the political development within the party ranks in Edo State and is deeply disturbed by the recent turn of events. We note that this is happening in spite of the various steps the party has taken to find an amicable resolution.
“Recall that party leaders such as the Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Chairman, Progressives Governors’ Forum, PGF, and Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Abubakar Bagudu, and other eminent party leaders, had all tried at various times to ensure that the issues do not escalate.
“Sadly, these interventions have not yielded desirable results.
“However, the immediate concern of the NWC is how to ensure that unity returns to the ranks of the party in Edo State. In achieving this, we have decided to constitute a high-power fact-finding and reconciliation committee of party leaders to meet with all disputing parties to ensure that all issues are addressed and resolved.
“Meanwhile, the meeting of the NWC, which held today, Wednesday, at the Party’s National Secretariat received a notification of the suspension of the Edo State APC Chairman, Anslem Ojezua by 11 of the 16 members of the Edo State Working Committee (SWC). We have reviewed the process they followed and conclude that they have fulfilled the required conditions.
“We, therefore, uphold the suspension of the Edo State APC Chairman, Anslem Ojezua while we await the outcome of the Fact-finding and Reconciliation Committee.
“Please note that the NWC’s objective and cause of action is strictly to address the root causes of the disputations and reconcile all parties to make our great party even stronger.”
