The Edo State All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party are at loggerheads over the alleged hijack of the Continuous Voter Registration.

The exercise began on May 27 in Edo and Ondo states and was expected to end on June 5 but the Independent National Electoral Commission extended it till June 9.

Speaking on the exercise on Wednesday, the state APC Publicity Secretary, Peter Uwadiae, said that his party advocated an extension of the exercise even before it began, noting that it would give more people the chance to register.

He alleged that the PDP has hijacked the process with those who profess to be PDP members getting registered.

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He said, “It is the level playing ground which has not been provided for all the parties to get their people registered that we are bothered about. PDP has been a stumbling block to other parties registering their members.

“It is unfortunate that you go to a registration centre and they will be asking you which party do you belong to.

“At this time of registration, the issue of party should not assume this proportion. The reason why you see that there are still many people to register is because of the idea that is being pushed that if you are not a PDP member, you cannot register.

“Even with the extension, the problem will still be there with the government of the day monopolising the issue of registration,” he added.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: INEC Extends Voter Registration For Edo, Ondo Polls

However, the PDP Campaign Committee Media Deputy Director General, Olu Martin, said the APC’s allegation was to destroy or weaken the institution.

He said, “Let me say that as a party, we are worried that individuals who ought to know to destroy or weaken our political institutions because they want to score cheap points.

“The implications of what APC has done with this spurious allegation is that it is saying that the Independent National Electoral Commission has been corrupted.

“If they are saying that the INEC cannot carry out a simple CVR task then what becomes of a cumbersome task of conducting a governorship election?

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“I have never seen a PVC with APC or PDP written on it. Let’s even assume that there can be a level of influence in the ongoing CVR, it shows that the APC cannot convince people to register.

“There is no evidence to prove what they are saying. If people are encouraged to vote, the party they belong to is not written on their heads.

“My fear is that, APC has achieved over the years, a seeming expertise of demeaning institutions. If you are demeaning INEC, what then becomes of their independence.”

The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially released a 256-member State Campaign Council list, with the former state governor and Senator representing Edo North, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as chairman.

A statement by Acting State Chairman of the party, Mr Jarrett Tenebe, names Senator Matthew Urhoghide as the Campaign Council Director-General (DG), and Hon. Joe Ugheoke, Campaign Council Secretary.

The statement, which was signed by Orobosa Omo-Ojo said the Director of Publicity of the campaign counci further names Hon. Petet Akpatason as Deputy Director-General (DDG) of Operations; Arc. Mike Onolememen as Deputy Director-General (DDG) of Administration.

Chief Lucky Imasuen, Hon. Odi Okogie, Hon. Abu Lawani have been designated as coordinators for Edo South, Edo Central, and Edo North, respectively.

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The Campaign Council he said also has Barr. Bisi Idaomi as Director of Administration, Hon. John Osakue as Director of Operations, and Hon. Samson Osagie as Director of Contacts.

The statement names Dr. Ernest Umakhihe as Director of Finance, Hon. Orobosa Omo-Ojo as Director of Publicity and Hon. Kazeem Afegbua, handling media relations.

Strengthening the campaign’s logistics and mobilization efforts, the statement names Hon. Theo Okoh as Director of Groups, and Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon as Director of Logistics.

Hon. Razak Bello-Osagie will oversee Events and Venues, while Dr. West Idahosa will act as Director of Legal Affairs. Hon. Patrick Ikhariale will lead mobilization efforts, and General Alfred Ilogho will be responsible for conventional security.

Hon. Francis Okoyo is Director of Diaspora, Mr. Gideon Ikhine is Director of Strategy, Hon. Itohan Edokpolor is Director of Women and Market Traders, Dr. Elizabeth Ebosele is Director of Professionals, Hon. Rich Lamai is Director of Civil Society, Hon. Joe Ikpea is Director of Artisans.

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Mr. John Mayaki is Director of New Media, Hon. Theo Afuda, Director of the Situation Room, and Hon. Grace Musa is Director of Special Duties. Hon. Gabriel Iduseri is Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr. Ekunwen Nosa is Director of Medical, and Hon. Nosa Osahon is Director of Inter-Party Relations.

“There are also Campaign Council Coordinators of three persons for each of the 18 Local Government areas that make up the state,” the APC chairman added.

Although the inauguration date for the 256-member Campaign Council has not yet been set, Tenebe said, “the composition of the council reflects a meticulous effort to ensure comprehensive representation of APC’s diverse and dedicated members.”

The crisis rocking the Edo state chapter of the Labour Party, took a new twist yesterday as the state work committee of the party ratified the suspension of its caretaker chairman, former Edo speaker, (Mrs.) Elizabeth Ativie over alleged gross misconduct and insubordination.

Recall that the Ogbaloi-led state working committee on May 25, suspended the national chairman, Bar. Julius Aburi, over anti-party activities and on May 27, Abure inturn dissolved the the Ogbaloi-led executive on the excuse that their tenure has expired in April, thereafter installed a former Edo Speaker, Elizabeth Ativie, as caretaker chairman.

The decision to suspend Ativie was taken at an enlarged meeting of the party which was attended by Local Governments chairmen and secretaries of the party.

READ ALSO: Edo Guber: LP State Exco Sacked, Caretaker Committee Set Up

Ativie’s suspension is coming less than a week since she was sworn-in as caretaker chairman of LP in the state by the National leadership of the party.

The party Chairman in the Ativie’s Uhunmwonde local government, Mr. Aghedo Okhiongbamwonyi, said the leadership of her ward 4 suspended her from the party on May 4.

Okhiongbamwonyi said the letter was endorsed by the ward chairman and secretary, Charles Usiesefe and Mike Ighile, respectively.

In the suspension letter, the party leadership in the wards cautioned her to restrain from holding out or parading herself as member of Labour Party.

READ ALSO: Edo Guber: Labour Party Names Campaign Council

Ogbaloi who presided over the enlarge meeting of the party, said a letter dated May 30th from Ativie’s local government also affirmed her suspension.

The state working committee, however, ratified the suspension of Ativie during the enlarge meeting of the party

Responding, Ativie said she remains the authentic state chairman of the part and was not aware of any meeting suspending her.

“They should know that by the constitution of labour Party, no ward or local government chairman has the authority to suspend anybody or the chairman”

“It is dead on arrival. I am the current state Labour chairman in Edo state” she said.