Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo has apologised to aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants who participated in the party’s 2019 primary election.
Addressing the aspirants at Government House in Benin, the governor said that the meeting was inline with the recommendation of the Theophilus Okoh committee set up to reconcile the aggrieved members of the party.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Obaseki, alongside party leaders in the state, thanked them for remaining with the party despite their grievances.
His words: “After reading the Okoh committee report and watching videos, I really appreciate you all and say we are truly sorry for what you may have gone through during the 2019 primary election.
“Out of the primaries arose almost 20 court cases of those that claimed they were deprived of the opportunities to contest.
“To build trust, confidence and demonstrate that we truly want to reconcile the aggrieved members of our party, within a week of receiving the Okoh committee report, we have to call a meeting to talk to our aggrieved members.”
He called on the party members to join hands together with his administration to build the party.
“We are proud of our achievements as a government and people are appreciating our administration for moving the state forward,” the governor said One of the aggrieved aspirants, Evbu Igbinedion, called on the governor and members of the party in the state to ensure that females aspirants were given support to win elections.
Another aspirant, Mr Anavberokhai Isah, called on leaders of the party to adopt zoning system to prevent future reoccurrence in the state.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the APC in Edo state on Monday, August 12, put partisan politics aside to celebrate the 80th birthday celebration of immediate past national chairman of the APC and former governor of Edo state, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
National chairman of the PDP, Chief Uche Secondus, who described Oyegun as a national leader led PDP chieftains that graced the occasion.
Other PDP chieftains present at the event was the Esama of Benin Kingdom Chief Gabriel Igbinedion; former Governor Lucky Igbinedion, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, state chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih and other state executives of the PDP.