APC suspends former Edo governorship aspirant, Airhiavbere for anti-party activities

By Ikhili Ebalu Benin City

The All Progressives Congress, Oredo Ward I, on Monday, suspended the former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, General Charles Airhiavbere for an alleged anti-party activities.

General Charles Airhiavbere in 2012, contested against Adams Oshiomhole of APC under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. And in 2016, he was a governorship aspirant on the platform of APC.

This was contained in a press statement signed by its chairman, Hon. Felix Ehigiegba and 21 others and made available to newsmen in Benin City.

Hon. Felix alleged that the retired general worked against president Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of the party in the just concluded presidential and national assembly elections in the state and therefore, his offense is unpardonable.

According to him” We wish to bring to the notice of the party hierarchy anti-party acts/actions carried out by one of the leaders of Oredo ward one APC- General Charles Airhiavbere during the last general elections held on the 23 February, 2019 (Presidential and National Assembly).

“Sir, it will interest you to note that on the 3rd of March, an enlarged APC leadership meeting was held, in that meeting, one of the leaders from ward one, Hon. Samson Abu openly revealed how Gen. Airhiavbere was involved in anti-party activities against the APC.

“Though Gen. Airhiavbere was unavoidably absent in that meeting. Based on series of complaints from different quarters abut Gen. Charles Airhiavbere’s actions of late towards the party, an investigative panel was set up to find out the true picture.

“The panel having sat and carefully investigated the allegations, came up with these findings and recommendations:

“General Charles Airhiavbere on the day of election deliberately withheld tags and other party tools meant for agents and APC faithful thereby hindering their work on the field.

“That Gen. Charles Airhiavbere openly canvassed for votes for the opposition PDP and thereby worked against our candidates- The President and our National Assemblies candidates.

“That Gen. Charles Airhiavbere openly told our party agents and loyalists that they should make sure APC did not win.

“That was supposed to be Mr. President and National Assembly election”, he said.

Felix added” Based on Gen. Airhiavbere unpardonable actions against the APC and coupled with hard evidence against him, the undersigned executive of Oredo ward I met and moved a vote of no confidence on General Charles Ariavbere and he is there suspended indefinitely from the All Progressive Congress with immediate effect”

In his response, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere said their allegations are baseless adding that their purpose of coming up with such a frivolous allegations was to thwart his governorship ambition in the state.

Airhiavbere said there has never been a time he worked against the interest of the party stressing that the allegations are the handiwork of his political enemies.

“Am not aware of that, I don’t know what could have led to that. There are laid down procedure in APC constitution. If that has not been followed, then there must be a gang up or coup to discourage those that they see as threat.

“Definitely, it has to do with the 2019 governorship election in the State. That must be a sinister movement against those perceived to be a threat. It is a case of let us take down the heavyweights, let us take them down now. That is politics, but that is not democracy. But, if we are practicing democracy, let us practice it right.

“There are laid down procedures. [Learning about my suspension] is not even supposed to be in the press, it is supposed to be from the ward. Nobody has invited me, nobody has discussed anything with me or that I failed to show up.

When asked if he truly campaigned for the opposition, Arhiavbere asked; “Where’s the evidence? I spent my money to host people in my house, all the youths that came to vote. I am the only person who has an active campaign office, right behind the voting unit at Oredo. That’s the rallying point.

“It is a case of calling the dog a bad name to hang it. I didn’t contest, so, why should I be singled out. I was not funded to lead any campaign, neither did I hold back any campaign money. There must be a strategic calumny to discourage me from contesting, that is where is coming from,” the general said.


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