Dr. Azemhe Azena, a contender for the Labour Party’s ticket in the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State, has resigned from the party.
The resignation letter, dated January 27, 2024, was addressed to the Ward 10 chairman of the party in Okpekpe, Etsako-East Local Government.
Azena was among the 18 governorship aspirants who protested against the N30 million fees for the purchase of Expression of Interest and nomination forms on Thursday.
The televangelist, also the Pastor, Southern Region 2 of Omega Fire Ministries, Benin City, had previously expressed determination to contest the party governorship primary election scheduled for February 22, 2024, despite the N30 million fee.
In his resignation letter, Azena attributed his decision to leave the party to alleged ill-treatment meted on him and his supporters by Michael Onaivi, the Akoko-Edo local government chairman of the party during his tour of the local government.
He alleged that Onaivi prevented him and his team from entering the local government.
According to him, “My decision to leave the party I have so much labored for is based on the ill-treatment I got when I embarked on a political tour of all the local government areas in Edo North, where I came from, between 27 and 30 of December 2023.”
“It was to my utmost surprise that the leadership of the Labour Party in Akoko-Edo, led by the Local Government Area chairman, Mr. Michael Onaivi, resisted and prevented my team and I from entering into the Local Government for the said visit.”
He further stated that he reported the incident to Chris Ighodalo, Leader of Edo North Senatorial District of the party, and had several entreaties made to the chairman by the senatorial leader to allow his team to visit the local government, all to no avail.
“I wrote a protest letter to the senatorial leadership, copying the state leadership and have personally met with the senatorial leader over the issue, up until today, nothing has been said or done about it.”
He condemned the alleged ill-treatment, regarding it as a disregard for justice and equality, which goes against the principles of the party.
He also expressed gratitude to the party’s state leadership for the past opportunity to serve as an active member.
