By DADA AYOKHAI
The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress(APC) has described the recent defection of former Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Mrs Elizabeth Ativie as inconsequential and a face-saving measure.
In a statement issued in Benin City, the APC, through it’s Publicity Secretary, Bar.
Peter Uwadiae Igbinigie, Wednesday, the party said Hon(Mrs)”purported resignation from our party was a failed face saving move to bring our great party to ridicule, podium, opprobrium and manifest disrepute.
“Prior to her purported defection, Mrs Ativie had run foul of the rules of the party with actions not expected from a member of her status following her terrible defeat in the primary of the Orhionmwon/Uhunmwonde Federal Constituency where she came a distant 3rd and last in the election won by Dr(Chief) Billy Osawaru”.
APC said shortly after the declared result, Hon Elizabeth Ativie “attempted to substitute the name of the winner, Billy Osawaru, with her name in connivance with her co-travellers. An action that is not only an Electoral Fraud but an infraction on the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended. Her action is also a despite and calculated attempt to bring our chapter of the party to disrepute.
Bar Igbinigie further said “the idea that our party is not gender sensitive to the female members as been cooked by Hon. Ativie is unfounded, even as the party excempted all it’s female aspirants from paying the nomination form to contest all positions while they only paid for the Expression of interest Forms.
APC then assured its female members that we ” shall continue to recognize our women in our scheme of dealings as our women will always enjoy a pride of place in all that we do”
