The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State announced on Thursday that it had regained possession of its secretariat in Benin City, which had been under the control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for four years.
Edo APC Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, who addressed party members and the press, stated that the secretariat rightfully belongs to the APC, emphasizing that the party had legally renewed its lease for seven years before the PDP, allegedly supported by former Governor Godwin Obaseki, forcefully seized the property.
Tenebe explained, “About four years ago, APC made a concerted effort to extend the lease of this building, which has always been our party’s office. If you check Google, you will still see this secretariat listed as the APC’s office.
“The party approached the national office to secure funds for renewing the lease. The national leadership obliged and provided the money for a seven-year renewal. However, when former Governor Obaseki defected to the PDP, they used force to evict us from the secretariat, destroyed our property, and seized our vehicles.
Read also: Court jails Eze Ndigbo who threatened to invite IPOB to Lagos before 2023 polls
“At the time, we reported the matter to the Inspector General of Police, who directed that we reclaim the secretariat. Unfortunately, the state’s Commissioner of Police, working in tandem with the former governor, refused to allow us access. Back then, I was the APC deputy chairman.”
Tenebe noted that when he assumed office as state chairman, he made a commitment to reclaim all properties unlawfully taken from the APC during Obaseki’s administration.
He added, “On the day I became chairman, I promised two things: first, to ensure that the APC regains control of the state, and second, to recover all properties taken from the APC.
“A few months ago, the governorship election saw Senator Monday Okpebholo emerge victorious, fulfilling one of my promises. Today, I am fulfilling the second by reclaiming our secretariat. This is the happiest day of my life.”
The chairman also revealed plans to remodel the secretariat in line with APC’s style and declared the party’s readiness to resist any attempts by other groups to take over its assets.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Ben Abang, visited the secretariat alongside senior officers to assess the situation and held discussions with APC leadership.
Meanwhile, State PDP Chairman Tony Aziegbemi, who was at the premises during the takeover, was escorted off the property by the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku.
When contacted, State PDP Publicity Secretary Chris Nehikhare stated that the party would release an official response later in the day.