Former Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie, has resigned her membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over what she termed the non-inclusion of women in elective positions, while seeking a third force where members are to freely express themselves, outside the APC and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).
Ativie’s resignation was announced at a news conference at the Press Centre of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State Council, Benin City, Edo State with a letter addressed to the Edo State chairman of APC, Col. David Imuse (rtd.), through the party’s chairman of Irhue Ward 4, and Uhunmwonde LGA party chairman.
Ativie also blamed the state chairman of APC for not allowing women in the party emerge as candidates. She said the APC chairman was busy collecting money from aspirants rather than adhering to the national leadership position to ensure women secured tickets as candidates.
The resignation letter read: “This letter is to convey to you that I have officially resigned from the APC, with immediate effect.
“The reason for my resignation is attributed to the current unresolved crises facing APC in Uhunmwonde and Orhionwwon LGAs and the entire APC in Edo State.”
Ativie, while later addressing reporters, said: “I wish to sincerely apologize for coming late. I was held up this morning at Edo State secretariat of APC on Airport Road in Benin City, when I went to submit my resignation.
“I thought I could just sneak in and out, but to my greatest surprise, all the officers were there, but they locked the door and said I was going nowhere. I told them that people were waiting for me. So, I had to leave. I actually dodged and left the place. I have very high regard for journalists.
“I wish to inform my teeming supporters and the general public that I have officially resigned from my former party, the APC, as a result of the crises since after the last primaries in view of lack of internal democracy, with some persons allowed to hijack the party.
“It is not because I did not have the opportunity to have the ticket (to represent Uhunmwonde/Orhionwwon constituency in the House of Representatives), but I have been a feminine activist, and I have fought assiduously to ensure women inclusion in decision making in Edo State and Nigeria.
“It is unacceptable that all the women in Edo State who sought elective positions on the platform of APC in the primaries were illogically prevented from picking the tickets. APC does not have female candidate in Edo South Senatorial District that I belong. I cannot remain in such a political party that has no regard for women inclusion hence, I decided to throw in the towel.”
The former speaker urged her teeming supporters to remain calm, while assuring that in a few weeks, she would let the whole world know her next political move.
She hailed the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Hajia Aisha, on her efforts in putting in place a team to ensure women inclusion in all the elective positions in the chapters of the APC across Nigeria, with all the female aspirants invited to a meeting in Abuja, but lamented that Edo chapter of the party did not respect the first lady’s decision despite her liaising with President Buhari and the national chairman of APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
Ativie reiterated that the recommendations in favour of females, included a senator, three members of House of Representatives and a minimum of six House of Assembly members in each state of the country, which were tabled before the National Executive Committee (NEC) of APC, while Senator Adamu also invited the state chairmen to Abuja and urged them to include more women.
She noted that her name was on the list of Edo women to be specially considered for tickets, but no action was taken in the state chapter.
Ativie stressed that she did not rely on the recommendation and still worked hard to get the ticket but there was no push from Edo State APC chapter.
“It was after 30th that people loyal to Aziegbemi appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court. As we speak, the Appeal Court is yet to entertain the case. So, it is that ruling of the High Court, which authenticated our list that is still subsisting as we speak.”
It would be recalled that,, as tension overwhelmed both factions await Supreme Court ruling to determine the right candidates that will be on the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) ballot box in the 2023 general election.
