As preparations for the 2024 governorship election in Edo State gather momentum, more chieftains have resigned from the All Progressives Congress in the state, an investigation by Saturday PUNCH has shown.

Recall that a former Commissioner for Communication and Orientation in the state, Andrew Emwanta, resigned from the party in February, saying his decision stemmed from the party’s lack of internal democracy, which he said, reflected in the governorship primaries it conducted in the state.

In a letter to the Ward Chairman, Ward 7, Egor Local Government Area of the state, Emwanta said, “I am writing to formally tender my resignation from the membership of the All Progressives Congress, effective from today, the 18th day of February 2024.

“My decision to resign from the party stems from its lack of internal democracy, flowing from the flawed process of the just concluded Edo governorship primaries. It has left me with no confidence in the party’s leadership structure and sense of political ethos.

Also, a former governorship aspirant of the party in the state, Dr Victoria Amu, earlier this month resigned her membership of the party for “personal and family reasons.”

In her resignation letter addressed to Ward 4 chairman of the party in Owan West Local Government Area of the state, Amu said, “I thank the party for finding me worthy to have been given the opportunity to serve as SSA on Social Mobilization for seven years under Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and SSA to Governor Godwin Obaseki for one year.

“It is on record that I ran for the House of Assembly in 2022 and also in the just concluded Governorship race in 2024, all under APC. I crave the indulgence of all my friends, supporters, and well-wishers to respect my decision at this auspicious moment to redefine the destiny of our great state.”

However, four chieftains resigned from the APC in the state on Monday, May 20, 2024, premising their resignations on the way and manner the affairs of the party had been conducted since the conclusion of its governorship primaries in the state.

In his resignation letter addressed to the chairman of APC Ehor Ward I in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of the state, one of the four chieftains, who recently resigned, Mr Felix Alari, said, “I, Alari Felix, write to inform you of my decision to resign my membership of the All Progressives Congress effective immediately.

“This decision has been necessitated by the way and manner the affairs of the party have been conducted especially in matters of the party the primaries and other sundry issues. Having been in this party from its inception, and having endeavored over the years to work hard within the party framework to help build a virile political party, it has however become clear to me that this party has lost focus and has largely deviated from its core values.

“Edo State APC today is a highly disorganised political party operated by myopic and egoistic mediocre who have little or no regard whatsoever for intellects and party loyalty, and democratic principles. Please, do accept this letter as formal notice of my resignation,” he added.

Another chieftain, who also resigned from the party on Monday, John Uhunwangho, in his letter addressed to the APC ward chairman in Urhonigbe South Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the state, said, “I wish to humbly inform you of my resignation from the All Progressive Congress (APC) with effect from today the 20th day of May 2024.

“My resignation is as a result of the failure of leadership of the party to unite the party and lack of cohesion of the party which is leading the party to disaster in the upcoming gubernatorial election in the State.”

In his resignation letter addressed to the APC ward chairman in Urhonigbe North Orhionmwon LGA of the state, a chieftain of the party, Chief Wilson Ogieva Urhonigbe, said, “I wish to humbly inform you of my resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) with effect from today the 20th day of May 2024.

“My resignation is as a result of the failure of leadership of the party to unite the party and lack of cohesion of the party which is leading the party to disaster in the upcoming gubernatorial election in the State.”

The fourth person who also resigned from the party on Monday, Mr Sunday lyamu, in his letter addressed to the APC ward chairman in Urhonigbe South Orhionmwon LGA, said, “I wish to humbly inform you of my resignation from the All Progressive Congress (APC) with effect from today the 20th day of May 2024.

“My resignation is as a result of the failure of leadership of the party to unite the party and lack of cohesion of the party which is leading the party to disaster in the upcoming gubernatorial election in the State.”

https://punchng.com/more-chieftains-dump-apc-in-edo-as-gov-race-hots-up/