OYEGUN QUITS ANPP

Former governor of Edo State and vice presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the 2011 general election, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun yesterday resigned from the party.

Oyegun's resignation is not unconnected to his recent suspension as a member of the party by the Edo State chapter of the ANPP for endorsing the State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for the 2012 governorship election in the state.

The former governor had earlier adopted Oshiomhole for the July 14 governorship polls in the state to the consternation of his party men.

In a letter dated April 5, 2012 and addressed to ANPP National Chairman, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the former governor stated that the purported indefinite suspension by the Edo State Branch of the ANPP was read by him for the first time, in the newspapers, like every other person, on the 4th April 2012.

'The action is of course clearly unconstitutional and designed solely to embarrass my person but in the process the Party is being held to public ridicule. I would like to reiterate, without any equivocation, the comment I made, in my personal capacity, which is that I fully support the bid for re-election of the incumbent Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, as he has performed brilliantly.'

Oyegun who until his resignation was the deputy national chairman (South), said while he did not intend to challenge his suspension which he described as unconstitutional, he had decided to save everybody the trouble, by leaving the party.

'I therefore, wish to save everybody a lot of trouble by doing what I ought to have done long ago– but for obviously misplaced loyalty-and that is resigning, with effect from the date of this letter, my membership of the ANPP and by implication my position as Deputy National Chairman, South.'

He reiterated that the ANPP in Edo State had three choices in the forthcoming governorship election in the state. The choices, he said, included adopting Oshiomhole for the election, recruiting a candidate for the election as no member of the party was interested in contesting, or refrain from presenting a candidate. Oyegun said unfortunately, the ANPP in the state has taken the worst option by getting a non member to contest the next election on its platform. He stated that he could not be part of that arrangement.

He thanked the party for the opportunity given to him to serve and prays that it will wake up from its deep coma before it becomes too late.'