OWAN EAST, EDO STATE – A brewing internal crisis within the Owan East Local Government Area chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has come to the fore, as a group of party stakeholders, identified as the “Axis-Two” meeting, called for an end to “dictatorship” and “subversive” leadership tactics.
In a detailed statement released on behalf of the attendees, Engr. Dr. Owu Festus defended the group’s recent resolutions, describing their actions as a “struggle for truth” aimed at saving the party from internal decay and a “war of attrition.”
Key Resolutions and Demand
The “Axis-Two” meeting convened to address what it described as sensitive issues that had previously only been discussed in “echoes of murmur.” The group outlined several critical demands to the local and state leadership:
Upholding the Joint Ticket: The group reaffirmed its total support for the joint ticket of Mr. Aitalegbe Ernest and Imooye Alaba for the upcoming local government elections, amid rumors that the party leadership intends to replace them.
End to ‘Lopsided’ Appointments:
Dr. Festus alleged a significant imbalance in political patronage, claiming that appointments are concentrated in specific wards. He noted that some individuals currently hold up to three jobs, while other wards are left without a sense of belonging.
Halt to Misplaced Adoptions:
The group criticized the “misplaced adoption” of certain individuals for elective offices, arguing that declaring offices “not vacant” has triggered unnecessary bickering and stifled democratic competition.
Call for Wider Consultation: The stakeholders emphasized the need for broader inclusivity in the party’s decision-making process to ensure long-term growth and stability.
Pushback Against Allegations
Addressing the backlash that followed the meeting, Dr. Festus dismissed allegations of “usurping leadership” as a diversionary tactic intended to “muscle out the messenger and the message.”
He characterized the vituperation from critics as the “stuttering that accompanies the exposure of dictatorship.”
”Honour considers its wound of bravery as self-inflicted… we shall continue to engage the system until truth prevails and all injustice rewritten for the prosperity of our party,” the statement read.
A Call for Sober Reflection
Despite the firm stance, the group offered an apology to any party members—highly placed or otherwise—who may have been offended by their “bravery.” They maintained that their actions are progressive and intended to strengthen the APC’s values of honesty and inclusivity rather than destroy the party’s fabric.
The statement concluded with a call for all party members to weigh their actions on the “scale of truth” and work toward a more unified Owan East APC.
