A group of aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, operating under the platform of Concerned Ovia North-East Voice, have raised their voice against what they described as the imposition of a non-indigene and non-party member on them by a former deputy governor of the state, Chief Lucky Imasuen.
In a letter addressed to the state governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the group appealed for his urgent intervention regarding moves by Chief Lucky Imasuen to foist one Mr Christopher Eriamatoe on a political elective position as the Executive Chairman of Ovia-North East Local Government Area.
“MrChristopher Eriamatoe is not a member of our great party and, as such, cannot be given such a vital position in the local government where he once worked against us as a media agent to the former Governor, Godwin Obaseki I, in the election that brought you in as the Executive Governor of Edo State.”
The group stated that imposing an opposition member on the local government area “because of a maternal relationship” sounds awful and embarrassing. It sidelines legitimate party stakeholders and qualified indigenes from our LGA, weakens cohesion and undermines the principle of local representation, which you advocate for and stand for.
“Our ward leaders and youth, who make up the local government, have already raised concerns; placing an outsider risks eroding confidence in the government’s fairness in Ovia North-East.”
They demanded that the nomination should be halted “until indigenes of Ovia North-East are transparently considered, meet with Ovia North-East party leaders and Local Government Area stakeholders within seven days and uphold the guidelines that local government slots go to bona fide indigenes and verified party members.”
Responding to enquiries on the protest via a telephone conversation, Imasuen dismissed them, tagging them as aid hirelings of some party leaders in the locality.
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