Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has called on the Edo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, to refrain from making what it described as misleading claims about his affiliation with the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).
The coalition urged the commissioner to focus instead on addressing concerns raised over the conduct of the recent local government election in the state, rather than engaging in what it termed inaccurate claims about his membership of the two political bodies.
In a statement jointly signed by its National Chairman, Dr. Samson Isibor, and Secretary, Hon. Nkama Waribe, the coalition said Afegbua’s recent comments were an attempt to divert public attention from concerns it had raised about the credibility of the July 11 local government poll.
The CRPP maintained that the commissioner was never a member of either CNPP or IPAC from the inception of the organisations to date, insisting that he should explain the basis of his claim to such membership.
According to the coalition, Afegbua was never elected or appointed chairman of any registered political party and, therefore, could not have qualified for membership of CNPP or IPAC, whose membership, it said, comprises chairmen of registered political parties or their duly accredited representatives.
The coalition challenged the commissioner to produce evidence showing that he was at any time a member of either organisation.
It further alleged that rather than addressing concerns over what it described as the “manufactured” outcome of the July 11 local government election, Afegbua resorted to personal attacks against the coalition.
”We expected the Commissioner to address the fundamental issues we raised concerning the credibility of the local government election instead of engaging in personal attacks. Resorting to insults does not answer the serious questions surrounding the election,” the statement read.
CRPP said it remained undeterred by the commissioner’s remarks, stressing that public office holders should respond to criticism with facts rather than personal attacks.
The coalition also renewed its call for Afegbua to be removed from office, alleging that he had failed to effectively project the policies and programmes of the Edo State government and had allowed personal ego to overshadow the responsibilities of his office.
