Edo APC nullifies expulsion of house of reps deputy chief whip

The Edo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has nullified the expulsion of Pally Iriase, deputy chief whip of the house of representatives.

Iriase was expelled by his ward in Owan east local government area of Edo on Monday over alleged anti-party activities.

The expulsion, which was ratified by the local government chapter of the party, was announced via a letter signed by Zuberu Shabah and Theophilus Aigboje, its chairman and secretary, respectively.

But addressing journalists on Tuesday, Sunny Okomayin, vice-chairman of the party in Edo north, dismissed Oriase’s expulsion.

Okomayin said Iriase, being a member of the national executive committee, remained a bonafide member of the party.

He described the expulsion as the handiwork of mischief makers who probably had personal issues with the “respected leader”.

He added that neither the ward nor local government chapter of the party had a right to expel a member of the party’s NEC.

“We are quite surprised by the action of the persons responsible for this alleged expulsion of not only respected leader of the party, but a principal officer of the house of representatives,” he said.

“We have rules guiding every action of members. If at all, Iriase has breached any of the rules, it is only the national leadership of the party that can take disciplinary action against him and not these people.

“If not for mischief-making, why wasn’t I, the senatorial vice-chairman of the party consulted on this? As I speak, an emergency leadership meeting of the state chapter of the party has been called for today (Tuesday) over this matter.”