Edo PDP suspends governorship aspirant for ‘associating’ with Sheriff

The Edo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, a governorship aspirant, for alleged anti-party activity.

The state chapter of the party took this decision at the end of its meeting on Sunday.

It accused Iduoriyekemwen of teaming up with Ali Modu Sheriff, a factional leader of the PDP, to work against the “tenets of the party” after he had lost the governorship primary election in the state.

The party also accused him of working with Adams Oshiomhole, governor of the state and APC member, to destabilise the party.

“You will recall that Edo PDP had its gubernatorial primary on the 20th June 2016 and three aspirants participated. The process which was adjudged free, fair and transparent, was watched live on national television and chaired by Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State,” a statement issued by Chris Osa Nehikhare‎, Edo PDP spokesman, read.

“Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu was declared winner with 584 votes, while Matthew Iduoriyekemwen scored 91 and Chief Solomon Edebiri 38 votes.

“With the successful completion of the primary, the party immediately activated its post primary conflict resolution mechanism by reaching out to the losers of the election in order to assuage their loss in the democratic contest.

“In as much as we tried, we discovered that one of the aspirants was adamant in working against the tenets of our party. His behaviour and utterances immediately after his loss have become not only embarrassing to the party but also to the vast majority of Edolites who are yearning for a change of government and party in Edo state.

“He has teamed up with the embattled former national chairman of our party and even gone ahead to purchase a kangaroo nomination form for the same governorship slot which he lost just a few days ago. His behaviour is unacceptable, irresponsible and selfish.

“This conduct is not surprising as the state working committee has uncovered his unholy alliance with the Governor Adams Oshiomhole-led government of Edo State to destabilise Edo PDP in their desperate attempt to retain power in the forth coming gubernatorial election.”

The party said that at the state working committee meeting held on Sunday, June 26, 2016, the following revelations were made:

“All members of the party in the state are enjoined to disregard the antics of Alhaji Modu Sheriff and Hon Matthew Iduoriyekemwen in their desperate attempt to discredit the outcome of the governorship primary held on 20 June, 2016 at which Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu was duly nominated as the candidate of our great party.

“The conduct of Hon Matthew Iduoriyekemwen in associating with Alhaji Modu Sheriff with the intention to destabilise the party in the state amounts to anti-party activity. Consequently, Hon Matthew Iduoriyekemwen is hereby suspended from the party for one month, pending further disciplinary action in accordance with chapter 10 of the Peoples Democratic Party Constitution of 2012 (as amended). “