Former Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Andrew Emwanta, has announced his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) amid the aftermath of the controversial Edo State gubernatorial primaries. Emwanta described his main reason for leaving the party as his displeasure with the defective electoral process.
The former commissioner said he was resigning because of the flawed governorship primaries that took place on Saturday, which resulted in a jumble of results and contradictory pronouncements of winners. The returning officer, Stanley Ugboaja, announced Monday Okpebholo as the victor, whereas Governor Hope Uzodimma, acting as the chairman of the Electoral Committee, pronounced Dennis Idahosa the victor. Confusion was increased when Ojo Babatunde declared Anamero Dekeri the winner, claiming to speak for returning officials in all local governments.
Emwanta formally resigned from the APC with effect from February 18, 2024, in a letter to the Ward Chairman of Ward 7 in the Egor Local Government Area. Emwanta expressed his lack of faith in the party’s leadership structure and political ethos, citing a lack of internal democracy inside the organisation and denouncing the faulty governorship primary process.
“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 or sense of political ethos,” he stated.
Emwanta expressed his wish to remain independent in his political affiliations, stating that he would support politicians based on merit, integrity, and compatibility with his principles. He emphasised that his ongoing affiliation with the APC would jeopardise his capacity to freely endorse candidates because it would require cooperation with the party’s choices, regardless of his principles.
“Moving forward, I wish to be an independent political player who can freely support any candidate in future elections based on their qualifications, integrity, and alignment with my values and beliefs. I am confident that this decision is in the best interest of my life’s philosophy, social orientation, and the political principles I hold very dear,” he declared.
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