Some Leaders of Owan West Local Government Area have vowed to stop the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, from winning the primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Owan West APC structure has given him certain conditions before he would be considered as a member of the party. Osagie Otabor reports on the political travails of Agbebaku.

The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, who is seeking to be re-elected on the platform of the APC, Owan West Local Government Area, is in a tight corner right now.

He has been elected twice, but currently, not all leaders of the party are keen on supporting his ambition.

Agbebaku is one of the many Edo politicians whose party loyalty taught a bitter lesson. He was first elected to the Assembly in 2007 at the height of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) power in Edo State. He was among the young parliamentarians under the late Zakawanu Garuba as Speaker.

When Comrade Adams Oshiomhole emerged as Governor in 2008, Agbebaku held firmly to his loyalty to the PDP.

He joined the PDP lawmakers to oppose Oshiomhole’s policies as directed by the party, led by the late Chief Tony Anenih. For example, Oshiomhole’s first budget in 2009 was not approved by the PDP-led Assembly until they were directed to do so by Anenih after certain projects were removed and the budget was tinkered with.

In 2010, the APC lawmakers in the Edo Assembly rose from eight to 12, and Garuba was subsequently removed as Speaker. All the PDP lawmakers staged a walkout. Agbebaku was among the PDP lawmakers who never returned to the House.

Close aides of Agbebaku said the decision to abide by the party’s order was an action he regretted for many years.

One of the aides said, “He did party loyalty and was not compensated with any appointment.”

Agbebaku later joined the APC and became Chief of Staff to former Speaker Frank Okiye in 2019. In 2023, Agbebaku won election to the Edo Assembly on the PDP platform and emerged Speaker.

However, the loss of the PDP in the 2020 governorship election saw Agbebaku in another dilemma. While remaining with the PDP as a true party man, his loyalty was with the APC under Governor Monday Okpebholo. Agbebaku dumped the PDP and joined the APC. All PDP ranking officers were removed except Agbebaku.

Sources said Governor Okpebholo was advised against bringing in a replacement for Agbebaku in order to avoid wrangling among the APC leaders in the state, who were expected to produce the next Speaker. Governor Okpebholo, however, has enjoyed a cordial relationship with the Assembly under Agbebaku’s leadership.

As the primary draws near, a chieftain of the Edo APC and former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Reverend Peter Obadan, was the first to push for support for Agbebaku to be presented as a consensus candidate for Owan West. He stirred the hornet’s nest in a letter to Owan political leaders, where he suggested that Speaker Agbebaku be presented as the sole candidate of the party ahead of the party primary.

Reverend Obadan said Agbebaku, in his acts and deeds, behaved exceptionally well as a true-born of Owan.

According to him, “He relates well with the people, he has assisted a good number of our children within the limit of his capacity and plays politics of inclusiveness without fear or favour. He discharges his responsibilities on the floor of the House creditably. Above all, he respects and honours the elders.

“Blessing has kept the House of Assembly in peace, and has related very well with the Executive, and I am sure Mr Governor is proud of him; we are proud of him. As our son who has performed beyond expectation, we should not only be proud of him, but also appreciate him by ensuring that he is returned unopposed in the next dispensation.

“Upon this premise, I call on all sons and daughters of Owan, irrespective of your political associations, to join in proclaiming Rt. Hon. Sheriff Agbebaku as the sole candidate from Owan West for the House of Assembly. If we resolve and act, it will be easier for Owan West to retain the No three position in Edo State for another 4 years. Mine is an appeal, and with wisdom, we can achieve our objectives.

“Our slogan henceforth should be ‘Owan West House of Assembly, No Vacancy.’ Those who have ears to hear and are wise, let them yield this counsel.”

The appeal by Obadan did not go down well with some Ward Leaders in Owan West.

In a letter signed by Owan West LGA Chairman, Frank David; Woman Leader, Ayeni Christian; Chairman of Chairmen, Osumah Raymond; Ward 2 Chairman, Ogunlowo Collins; and Ward five Chairman, Jacob Ekeinde.

Others who signed were Ward 7 Chairman, Idika Osifo; Ward 9 Chairman, Peter Abode; Ward 4 Chairman, Ojo Aigbogun, amongst others.

The Owan West APC leaders said the call and action of Rev. Obadan were undemocratic, unpatriotic and laden with parochial and emotional sentiments.

They said the local government, “has never had such a poor, abysmal and disappointing level of representation in the history of Owan-West.”

The leaders said they rejected the appeal made by Obadan, seeking endorsement of Agbebaku for a third-term bid, and as the sole candidate for the Edo State House of Assembly Election.

“We therefore state categorically that this appeal does not represent the position of Owan West APC leadership and/or the collective will of the party in Owan West and must be utterly disregarded by all party faithful and stakeholders.

“As of today, Hon. Agbebaku’s actions and influence, during the last Governorship Election, reportedly led to the harassment, intimidation and assault of party members and loyalists in Owan West by himself and his associates. These incidents have not been addressed and have left a lasting and indelible mark for the party to bear

“As of today, Hon. Blessing Agbebaku has not formally decamped and aligned with our party structure both at his Ward and Local Government levels. Consequently, he is not recognised as a bona fide member of the party structure in Owan West.

“We therefore call on all stakeholders and the general public to disregard the appeal made by Rev. Obadan, as it lacks legitimacy and does not reflect the stance of the party in Owan West. We say a resounding No to the endorsement of Hon. Blessing Agbebaku.”

At another meeting of the Owan West APC, the leaders outlined certain conditions for Agbebaku to be formally integrated into the party and join other aspirants to contest for the Edo State House of Assembly.

In a communique issued at the end of its enlarged meeting held in Sabongida-Ora, Speaker Agbebaku was asked to first defect to the APC at both his ward and local government levels for him to be fully integrated into the existing party structure at the local government level.

They demanded that he tender an unreserved apology to individuals he allegedly brutalised, maligned, or dehumanised during the governorship election.

According to the communique, “He must respect the established leadership structure of the party.

“The meeting further resolved that upon fulfilment of the above conditions, he may then be formally integrated into the party and join other aspirants to contest for the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA) ticket.

“The meeting reaffirmed that no aspirant will be endorsed, in line with the Party Constitution.

“A strong stance was taken against any form of external interference in the affairs of the local government chapter.”

Those in attendance, according to the communique, were the LGA Party Chairman and Secretary, Hon. Frank David and Evien AigbokhaiFormer Member, House of Representatives, Hon. Johnson Abolagba, all 11 Ward Chairmen, all 11 Ward Women Leaders, all 11 Ward Youth Leaders, all 11 Ward Organising Secretaries, amongst others.

The Edo Assembly Speaker did not pick up calls to his cell phone. He promised to call back, but never did. He later sent pictures of when he joined the APC, saying he remained a bona fide member of the APC. (The Nation)

Update news