Edo ADC Crisis Escalates As Odion-led Faction Suspends Odigie-Oyegun, Osunbor And Nine Others For Alleged Insubordination

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By Adekunbi Ero
The crisis rocking the Edo State chapter of the African Democratic Congress, (ADC) got messier on Wednesday as a factional chairman of the party, Kennedy Odion, announced the suspension of two former governors of the state – Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, a national leader of the ADC, and Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, senior advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and the National Legal Adviser of the party.

Odigie-Oyegun however waved it off, dismissing it as “laughable and not worth commenting on.”
The former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was reacting to Odion’s press statement on Wednesday in which the latter announced his suspension along with 10 others for alleged “insubordination”, including refusal to comply with lawful directives of the party.

However, in a counter claim, the newly elected state chairman of the party recognised by the National Secretariat, Tony Alile, said Odion had been expelled from the party by the National Convention and so had no power to suspend anyone.

Also allegedly suspended alongside the duo by the Odion faction were the newly elected state chairman, Dr. Tony Alile; former Senator Yisa Braimoh, another factional chairman, Dr. Nosa Ehima and six others.

Odion said their suspension was in line with Article 15(A)(iii), (vi), (viii), (ix), and (x), Article 15(B), Article 15(C)(1), (2), and (3) and Article 9(iv) of the Constitution of the ADC.

Other alleged anti-party activities included “conduct inconsistent with Party objectives and directives. Actions capable of causing disaffection, disorder, or disruption within the Party structure; Unauthorized factionalisation, including creation of parallel organs or structures; and Participation in unauthorised groups or caucuses not recognised by the Party’s Constitution.”

But dismissing Odion’s statement, Alile said, “If you monitor the National Convention, he was suspended. It was by the National Convention, which is the highest organ of the party, so he does not have any power to suspend anybody”.
According to him, “Up till yesterday, (Tuesday) he still remained the state chairman of the party; his tenure ends on the 12th of May, and our tenure commences from midnight on the 12th of May. But as it stands right now, our party affairs are in the hands of the Secretary, who is Charles Imuetinyan who is the Organising Secretary-elect.

“So, he (Odion) doesn’t have any right to speak for ADC anymore, or right to call any meeting in the name of ADC because the suspension is not just a mere television charade, it is a declaration from the National Convention”.