Airhiavbere denies rumours of expulsion from PDP

By GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

BENIN — Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Edo State in the July 14, 2012 governorship election, Maj. Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), has denied rumours that the leadership of the party had perfected plans to expel him from the party.

He said the rumour was that he would be expelled from the party because he challenged  the outcome of the election at the tribunal against the wishes of the party, adding that it was not true.

Gen. Airhiavbere made the clarification in Benin, while fielding questions from journalists at the Benin Airport, shortly after receiving national officers of PDP, led by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and Edo State executive members of the party, who were on a get well visit to the party’s National Deputy Chairman, South-South, Mr. Steve Oru, who is currently receiving treatment at University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, after being shot by suspected hoodlums some weeks ago.

He insisted that contrary to the rumours, he remained an integral part of the  PDP family both at the state and national levels, saying that those peddling rumours that  he was on the verge of being expelled from the party were rumour mongers.

“That is not true. I was the PDP governorship candidate in Edo State, the flag bearer, and I remain so. I am part of the PDP system. Our desire is to continually wax stronger and to ensure that the pillars of democracy are erected in Edo State,” he said.