31st March, 2022
By Jethro Ibileke
The Edo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday reversed its decision to boycott the state local government council election slated for 19 April, 2022.
The party said it is now prepared and ready to go into the elections headlong.
Recall that the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Uwadia-Igbinigie had in a statement on Tuesday said his party will boycott the much anticipated council election, on grounds that fund for the conduct of the election was not captured in the State 2022 Appropriation Law.
He further alleged violation in amendment of Edo State electoral law by the legislative arm, which reduced the number of days for campaign as enshrined in the electoral Act.
But, while addressing a section of the press at the end of a meeting at the State Secretariat of the party in Benin City, on Thursday, Uwadia-Igbinigie said that the party has changed its mind and will participate in the elections.
He said the decision to participate in the election followed a directive from the national leadership of the party, which approved the party’s participation in the elections, despite its misgivings.
According to him, “The Edo State APC emerged from an emergency meeting. Prior till now we had said we will not participate in the elections. But the national leadership of our party has decided that we should participate despite our misgivings, such as budgetary provisions for the exercise among other issues.
“We are already prepared and ready to go into the elections headlong. We had said before that anytime the PDP government in the State is ready to conduct a free, fair and credible elections into the local governments, we are ready to present our best. This is still our position.
“We are using this opportunity to call on all our membership across the State from the wards to the local governments, to brace up and liase with their respective executive committees on how they will present themselves as candidates for councilorship or Council chairman,” Uwadia-Igbinigie added.