A strongly worded protest letter, dated November 21, 2024, was sent to Governor Monday Okpebholo, via the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Musa Umar Ikhilor, by party leaders from the ten wards in the local government. The letter was signed by a coalition of APC leaders who are adamant that the list fails to reflect the five distinct kingdoms within the local government: Ekpoma, Idoa, Ogwa, Ujogba, and Egoro.
In the letter, the petitioners accuse former Edo State House of Assembly Speaker, Thomas Okosun, and former APC state chairman, David Imuse, of masterminding the nomination process without consulting local party leadership, a practice they claim is not adhered to in other local governments.
The letter bears the signatures of notable party leaders, including Chief Edwin Ogieriakhi, Chief Saturday Ogbeide, Hon. Abu Momodu, Mr. Visly Udaze, Chief Festus Ozoba, Mr. Wesley Oran, Mr. Sam Akhigbe, Chief Ikpea Ojie, Joe Aise Aisdion, and Hon. Monday Ehighawa.
The petitioners denounce the nominations as biased, pointing out that one nominee, Mrs. Ogbidi, is the wife of the APC local government chairman, while another, Pastor Odigie, is a minister in Thomas Okosun’s church. They urge Governor Okpebholo to review the nominations and ensure equitable representation for all five kingdoms, suggesting that the current list is inclusive only of Ekpoma kingdom.
In their scathing critique, the party leaders maintain that the list is capable of fostering division within the party, and therefore implore the governor to set aside the list for the sake of justice, stating, “We wish to protest against the list of commissioner nominees from Esan West Local Government.” These leaders convey their concerns, stating that the nomination process was conducted without consulting local leadership, serves only the interests of a select few, and fails to reflect the diversity of the local government, as customary.
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