A new wave of crisis has hit the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the funds allocated for the February 25, 2023, presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

The latest crisis Is brewing at the Owan East Local Government Area in Edo North Senatorial District, where some members of the party, under the aegis, critical stakeholders, have risen against the Director-General, Tinubu/Shettima, Adams Oshiomhole Campaign Council in Edo North Abdulganiyu Lawani, over alleged financial impropriety and other alleged infractions.

In a petition addressed to the State Chairman of the part, David Imuse and endorsed by one Abdulahi Isah, who has however, denied the authorship of the petition, the critical stakeholder raised nine allegations against Lawani and asked the state leadership of the party to investigate him, and if found wanting, remove as the leader of the APC in the council area in addition to being compelled to make a refund.

The group in addition, also sought consent of the state leadership to institute legal actions against Lawani with a view to making him pay for the alleged infractions.

They accused him of not properly accounting for various monies running into millions of naira donated for mobilisation and logistics during the campaigns and for the elections of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as senator-elect for Edo North, Professor Julius Ihonvbere for the House of Representatives and Henry Okaka for the state House of Assembly.

Lawani was also accused of not giving proper accounts of hundreds of bags of rice donated by political leaders for the people.

Similarly, the Vice Chairman, Edo Central of the party, Chief Francis Inegbenek, who was purportedly expelled from the party while some members of the party in Egor Local Government Area, Edo South Senatorial District, claimed they had suspended a Federal Commissioner in the Federal Civil Service Commissioner and former Attorney General of the state, Henry Idahagbon.

When contacted, the State Chairman of the party, Col David Imuse (rtd), said he was out of the country and was not aware of the petition yet.

When contacted, Lawani denied the allegations against him and accused a chieftain of the party in the area, Hon Fred Omoigberai, of being behind the petition.

He said “I am a self-made man and I have used my personal resources for the party. They claimed in the petition that I collected money meant for aspirants, how can I collect money from a boy who is my own, who is always with me? They said I should bring the money meant for members of the party to be shared by leaders and I refused and insisted that the money was meant for a purpose and would not be diverted.” (Nigerian Tribune)

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