The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has announced its decision to withdraw from the joint transition committee meeting, citing the outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration’s failure to provide essential documents necessary for a seamless transition.
In a statement issued by Barr Patrick Ikhariale, the secretary of the APC transition committee, it was highlighted that this oversight has significantly impeded their progress.
Ikhariale, who leads the APC Transition Committee alongside former deputy governor Dr. Pius Odubu, noted that their intention was to address and clarify the misleading statements made by state government officials, whether directly or indirectly.
“It is important to note that the inaugural meeting between the APC Transition Committee and the outgoing government’s team took place on Friday, October 18, 2024, at the JOOPSA Hall, GRA, Benin City,” he stated.
Despite what was described as a constructive first meeting, Ikhariale accused the government team of attempting to discredit APC committee members with unfounded allegations regarding requests for sitting allowances.
He further claimed that the government representatives asserted that the APC team demanded printed documents due to a lack of technological proficiency among its members.
“These allegations are not only false but also vexing, insulting, and utterly misleading, as such matters were never discussed during or after our meeting,” he emphasized.
Ikhariale recounted that both parties had agreed that the required documents would be provided in both digital and physical formats for convenience, following a request from the APC.
The government team had assured that these documents would be delivered before the subsequent meeting set for Monday, October 21, 2024.
However, he pointed out that the documents received thus far have been inadequate and unclear.
“To clarify our intentions, the requested documentation includes a comprehensive overview of all assets and liabilities, state assets located outside Edo, detailed reports from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from 2020 to the present, as well as reports on the Derivation Fund and all outstanding legal obligations since 2020,” he concluded.
