PDP kicks as Edo APC seeks legal advice on cars held by ex-Deputy Speaker

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has kicked against the claim by the ruling All Progressives Congress in Edo State that it is awaiting legal advice on what to do over official vehicles allegedly converted to personal use by the deposed erstwhile Deputy Speaker of the state Assembly, Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie.

Ativie represents Uhunmwode Constituency in the Assembly and was recently impeached along with the Speaker, the Majority Leader and one other member of the Assembly on August 16 by 19 members of the House for alleged gross misconduct.

While the Speaker and the Majority Leader have been recalled from suspension, Ativie and the other members are said to be still under suspension.

She was alleged to have converted her four official vehicles, comprising a 2016 Lexus jeep, one Prado jeep and two Hilux vans to her property against the instruction of the Assembly Clerk, Mr James Omoataman, who asked her to return the vehicles.

The suspended former Deputy Speaker is said to have claimed through her lawyer on August 16 that the vehicles were given to her for personal use by the immediate past governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, for the peace efforts she made in the state.

In their reaction, the APC claimed that it is waiting for advice from the state Attorney-General on what to do about the official vehicles.

APC publicity secretary in the state, Mr. Chris Azebamwan, said that the party had wanted to resolve the issue politically but since Ativie had taken a legal step on the matter, “the only sensible option for us as a party was to refer the matter to the state Attorney-General, who is the legal adviser to the state government and House of Assembly, to give us a legal position on this matter.

“Any insinuation or allusion that Governor Obaseki is trying to treat it as a purely internal matter is not just being mischievous but being economical with the truth.”

Read also: Embrace constructive dialogue in addressing agitations, Okupe advises Buhari

But angered with the ruling party’s response on the matter, the state PDP chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, on Sunday at a press briefing in the state lambasted the APC and accused the state government of planning to conceal the matter.
Orbih, had therefore petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), demanding that the matter be probed.

“Just days ago, information reached us that the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, and members of his party in Edo State have concluded plans to sweep the matter under the carpet, saying they are going to treat it as an internal affair of the APC. The vehicles in question belong to the state government and not the APC,” he said.

 

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