Tony Osauzo, Benin

Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Pally Iriase, and the lawmaker representing Owan East in the Edo State House of Assembly, Foly Ogedengbe, have been recommended for expulsion by the Owan East chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC). 

Chairman of Owan East Local Government chapter of the party, Mallam Zuberu Kasimu Shabah, who disclosed this to journalists, said Iriase’s recommendation was based on the report of a disciplinary committee set up by the Ward 9 executive committee.

In the recommendation to the national chairman of the party, Iriase was accused to have factionalised the Ward 9 executive, non-attendance of party meetings at the ward level since March 2018, and funding the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the locality.

Besides, Iriase was alleged to have sponsored his personal assistant, Hilary Ozogo, as the PDP candidate for Owan East constituency in the forthcoming House of Assembly election.

“Following continued anti-party activities by Iriase and Ogedengbe, the APC executive in Owan East, on February 27, held a meeting wherein it was resolved that the reports of the disciplinary committees set up to investigate the alleged anti-party activities by Iriase and Ogedengbe be upheld.

The action is in consonance with the provisions of the APC constitution and guidelines. All relevant copies of committees’ reports have been sent to the national chairman of the APC, accordingly.

“Mr. National Chairman, kindly effect this decision and prevail on the APC caucus of the House of Representatives to remove Iriase from the office of the deputy chief whip,” Shabah said.

Reacting to the decision of the Ward, a close aide of Iriase, who pleaded anonymity, described the allegations as baseless, and the recommended expulsion, a nullity.

Meanwhile, Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has called on the electorate in the state to vote for APCcandidates in the House of Assembly, to enable his administration sustain the ongoing human and infrastructure development.

Obaseki made the call during an interview with newsmen, in Benin, shortly after a thanksgiving service at the New Covenant Gospel Church, to celebrate the peaceful conduct of the February 23 presidential and National Assembly polls in the state.

The governor said his administration has executed numerous projects in the health, education and agricultural sectors, as well as several projects designed to strengthen the infrastructure of the state.

He explained that the achievements were made possible by a supportive House of Assembly, and urged Edo voters to come out en masse to vote for APC candidates on Saturday, to sustain the harvest of developmental projects in the state.

“I need the support of the House of Assembly to ensure we carry out more developmental projects in the state,” he said.